Overview

• A massive blackout struck Spain and Portugal on April 28, leaving tens of millions without power for hours before restoration efforts reached over 99% capacity by April 29.
• Red Eléctrica Española ruled out a cyberattack as the cause, while investigations into potential sabotage and technical failures remain ongoing.
• The blackout caused significant disruptions, including halting trains, subways, and traffic signals, and stranding over 35,000 passengers on 116 trains.
• At least five deaths have been linked to the blackout, including incidents involving carbon monoxide poisoning, a candle-related fire, and respirator failures.
• Experts highlight the vulnerability of modern power grids, which often operate near critical capacity, making them susceptible to cascading failures from minor disturbances.