On Monday, April 28, 2025, at 12:33 p.m. CEST, a significant power outage struck the Iberian Peninsula, affecting Spain, Portugal, and parts of southern France. The blackout disrupted transportation systems, communication networks, and essential services, leaving millions without electricity.
The Spanish grid operator, Red Eléctrica, reported a sudden loss of 60% of the country's electricity within five seconds. The outage halted metro and train services, caused traffic light failures, and led to the suspension of events like the Madrid Open tennis tournament. Hospitals operated on backup generators, and businesses, including major retailers like IKEA, were forced to close or limit operations. 
Preliminary investigations suggest that "anomalous oscillations" in high-voltage lines, possibly due to extreme temperature variations—a rare atmospheric phenomenon—may have caused the disruption. Authorities have ruled out cyberattacks and foul play. By early Tuesday, over 99% of Spain's power supply had been restored, but full normalization of the grid is expected to take several days. 
Sources: AP News, Reuters, The Guardian, Financial Express