Overview

• An unprecedented blackout on April 28 caused a sudden loss of 15 gigawatts, plunging the Iberian Peninsula into darkness for several hours.
• Five fatalities were reported, including three from carbon monoxide poisoning in Galicia, as power was fully restored by April 30.
• Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has ruled out a cyberattack and ordered an independent investigation into potential infrastructure failures and private operator accountability.
• The event has reignited political tensions, with left-wing parties pushing for energy sector nationalization while conservatives call for extending nuclear plant operations.
• Experts attribute the crisis to Spain's renewable-heavy grid lacking stabilizing infrastructure and backup systems, exacerbated by limited interconnection with Europe.