Power Restored Across Iberian Peninsula, but Travel and Infrastructure Disruptions Persist

Tens of millions of residents in Spain and Portugal have seen power restored following a major blackout that swept across the Iberian Peninsula and parts of southern France on Monday.

While electricity is now flowing again in nearly all affected areas, lingering transport disruptions and unanswered questions about the outage’s cause continue to challenge both governments.

The blackout struck suddenly on Monday afternoon, bringing much of Spain and Portugal to a standstill. Businesses shut down, metro systems halted mid-route, elevators stopped, and traffic lights failed, leading to road congestion and safety risks in major cities such as Madrid, Lisbon, and Barcelona. Airports also experienced significant delays and cancellations as backup generators struggled to keep operations running.

Authorities have confirmed that by early Tuesday morning, 99% of power had been restored in Spain, and Portugal’s energy grid was fully operational by late Monday. Despite this, disruptions to rail services, airport operations, and urban transport networks were expected to continue for several days as systems are gradually brought back online.

The cause of the blackout remains under investigation. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said that the national grid operator had reported a sudden loss of 15 gigawatts of power—roughly 60% of the country’s demand at the time. Officials in both Spain and Portugal have ruled out cyberattacks, weather-related factors, or human error as the source. Portugal’s Prime Minister Luis Montenegro pointed to an issue originating in Spain, while Spain’s grid operator has yet to confirm a definitive cause.

Transport across both countries has been heavily affected. In Spain, high-speed and long-distance rail services have resumed in some regions, but urban networks in cities like Madrid are still running at reduced capacity. Spanish emergency services rescued tens of thousands of commuters trapped in trains and subways on Monday. In Portugal, disruptions were exacerbated by a concurrent national rail strike, though metro services in Lisbon and Porto have since resumed.

Airports across the region faced extensive delays. Hundreds of flights were canceled or postponed, with major hubs like Lisbon, Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville particularly affected. Airlines, including EasyJet, offered free rebooking options, while travel insurers advised customers to retain receipts and documentation to support claims for disrupted trips.

In addition to transport, essential services were also strained. Hospitals in both countries shifted to generator power, and some banks and schools in Portugal temporarily closed. Supermarkets reverted to cash-only systems, and public authorities urged residents to limit phone use and stay off the roads unless necessary.

Though parts of southern France briefly lost power, the impact was minimal and quickly resolved, according to France’s electricity transmission operator.

With input from CNN, the New York Times, and EuroNews.