Spain Investigates Major Blackout Impacting Millions Across Iberian Peninsula

Wed Oct 22 2025 15:38:25 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Authorities scramble for answers as investigations center on the cause of the 18-hour blackout affecting Spain and Portugal.

Key officials are convening to address the recent widespread blackout that intermittently crippled electricity supply for millions across Spain and Portugal, as investigations unfold.

Spain's top security and defense officials met Wednesday morning in Madrid to delve into the extensive blackout that plunged much of the Iberian Peninsula into darkness this week. Lasting up to 18 hours, the outage brought critical infrastructure to a standstill and left millions scrambling for answers.

The Spanish government has sought assistance from European regulators and domestic agencies to uncover the root cause of the power grid failure. The National Security Council convened at 9 a.m. local time, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, his Defense Staff chief, and heads of national intelligence and security in attendance. A separate meeting focused on the blackout was also scheduled for 10 a.m.

The blackout began Monday afternoon, disrupting daily life until electricity was restored by Tuesday morning. This incident has ignited discussions about the potential vulnerabilities in Spain's power grid, particularly following a recent pivot by Red Eléctrica, Spain's national grid operator, towards greater reliance on renewable energy sources.

In response, Prime Minister Sánchez announced the formation of a commission led by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition to investigate the situation further. Spanish authorities are exploring various angles, having ruled out the possibility of a cyberattack according to Red Eléctrica’s preliminary findings.

Despite this assertion, a judge has mandated Red Eléctrica, alongside intelligence and police services, to submit reports within ten days regarding any potential cyber threats implicated in the outage. Sánchez highlighted the ongoing review by the National Cryptologic Center to assess emerging risks tied to the crisis.

As normalcy resumed following the restoration of power, Spain's Interior Ministry on Tuesday night downgraded most emergency measures. However, regions such as Madrid and Extremadura retained the highest alert level due to ongoing evaluations.

The situation remains fluid, with developments anticipated in the coming days as authorities continue to probe this unprecedented blackout.