Massive Blackout Hits France, Spain, and Portugal; Cyberattack Suspected
Madrid/Paris/Lisbon: In an unprecedented event, large parts of France, Spain, and Portugal were plunged into darkness today. Traffic lights went out, metros stalled inside tunnels, and major cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Pamplona were thrown into chaos as electricity and internet services collapsed. Officials initially cited technical failure, but speculation of a potential Russian cyberattack is gaining momentum across Europe.
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Sudden Power Drop Halts Transportation and Services
Around 12:30 PM local time, Spain’s power supply dropped sharply from 26 gigawatts to 12 gigawatts, disrupting transportation across the Iberian Peninsula. Metro services in Madrid, Lisbon, and Barcelona came to a halt, flights were delayed, and Madrid-Barajas Airport operated at half capacity. Events like the Madrid Open Tennis Tournament were interrupted, mobile networks crashed, and hospitals limited operations to emergency services only.
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Authorities Probe Possible Cyberattack
Spain’s Red Electrica grid operator called the incident a “system failure,” but Portugal’s Internal Administration Ministry did not rule out a cyberattack. Cybersecurity agencies are investigating, and although it’s too early to confirm, social media users quickly blamed Russia. Speculations link the incident to previous allegations of Russian interference, including the March 2025 fire at Heathrow Airport.
