29.04.2025 08:32
A national emergency has been declared in most of Spain and Portugal due to power outages. In Spain, 30,000 police officers have been deployed, and a state of emergency has been announced nationwide. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated that during the power outage, which began yesterday afternoon and the cause of which is still unknown, 60% of the country's electricity needs disappeared in just 5 seconds.
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Many European countries, including Spain, Portugal, France, and Belgium, are experiencing power outages. In Spain, where even traffic lights are not working, train and metro services have come to a halt. The Spanish electricity distribution company Red Electrica described the situation as "unprecedented in history." Meanwhile, the Spanish Ministry of the Interior announced that a state of emergency has been declared following the power outages affecting a large part of the country.
SPAIN'S PRIME MINISTER SPEAKS FOR THE SECOND TIME
Prime Minister Sanchez made a second statement following the National Security Council meeting regarding the power outages that have been occurring since noon in the capital Madrid at the Prime Minister's residence (Moncloa).
50% OF THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN SUPPLIED WITH ELECTRICITY
Sanchez stated, "Almost 50% of the electricity flow has been restored nationwide, and improvements are being recorded in all regions." He thanked France and Morocco for their solidarity with his country during the crisis, stating that they are working to fully restore electricity supply.
WHEN WILL NORMALCY RETURN IS UNKNOWN
Sanchez commented on the return to normalcy in his country, saying, "How long it will take to return to normal is something the electricity company cannot tell us definitively. The system dropping to zero technically has never happened before."
"15 GIGAWATTS OF PRODUCTION LOST IN 5 SECONDS"
Spain's Prime Minister Sanchez said:
"The electricity company informed us yesterday at 12:33 that 15 gigawatts of production suddenly disappeared from the system within 5 seconds. This has never happened before. To give an idea, 15 gigawatts corresponded to about 60% of the country's needs at that moment."
Sanchez expressed that the cause of the outage affecting the country has not yet been determined, and both the state and the private sector are working in a coordinated manner.
Reiterating that they do not rule out any possibilities regarding the cause of the power outage, Sanchez stated that all possibilities are being analyzed.
Sanchez urged the public to remain calm, explaining that there are no security problems in the country and that additional security forces are on duty.
35,000 PEOPLE TRAPPED IN TRAINS HAVE BEEN RESCUED
Sanchez mentioned that some regions have requested fuel, and this request has been met.
He reported that communication interruptions are ongoing, stating that this problem will also be resolved with the restoration of electricity supply.
Sanchez noted that regarding disruptions in air traffic, 344 out of approximately 6,000 flights have been canceled.
He reported that 35,000 people trapped in more than a hundred trains have been rescued, while 11 trains in hard-to-reach areas are waiting to be evacuated.
Sanchez stated that although the business world has been affected by the power outage, the financial markets and stock exchanges have made a "good closing."
RESTORATION OF ELECTRICITY FLOW VARIES BY REGION
Prime Minister Sanchez mentioned that they are working to restore electricity supply nationwide throughout the day and that necessary additional measures will be taken for areas where disruptions may occur.
He pointed out that the restoration of electricity flow varies by region, noting that in some areas, electricity flow has been restored at a rate of 97%, while in others, it remains below 15%.
8 REGIONS REQUESTED THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT TO TAKE OVER MANAGEMENT
Sanchez stated that eight regions in the country have requested a level 3 emergency plan, where local governments in autonomous Spain transfer their administrations to the central government.
Spain's Prime Minister Sanchez expressed that these regions include Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, Murcia, and Valencia, in addition to Madrid.
Sanchez noted that schools in these regions will remain open, but educational activities will not take place, urging workers to prioritize their safety.
CALL TO STAY WHERE YOU ARE
According to BBC news, Madrid Mayor Jose Luis Martinez Almeida called on residents to stay where they are as much as possible.
He expressed their desire to keep all roads open, noting that some highway tunnels had to be closed.
Almeida asked residents to only call emergency services in "truly urgent" situations.
The electricity grid operator in Spain, Red Electrica, announced that following this "unprecedented" situation, it could take 6 to 10 hours to supply energy to many regions in the country.
According to the Portuguese News Agency (LUSA), Portugal's Deputy Minister responsible for Regional Coordination, Manuel Castro Almeida, stated that the power outage affecting Portugal could be due to a cyber attack, which has also affected Spain, France, and Germany.
WHAT DOES THE LEVEL 3 EMERGENCY PLAN IN SPAIN INCLUDE?
According to the Civil Defense System Law, the level 3 emergency plan designated for large-scale emergencies encompasses the management and coordination of resources across all administrations by the Ministry of the Interior in autonomous Spain.
The Ministry has the right to mobilize troops and equipment nationwide when deemed necessary.
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The Civil Defense System Law corresponds to the 3rd level emergency "declared and concerning national interests emergencies."
UNABLE TO ACCESS THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE PORTUGUESE GOVERNMENT
It has been reported that the official website of the government is inaccessible due to a power outage in Portugal.
Those trying to access the site encountered the message "The government portal is currently unavailable. We will try to restore the service as soon as possible."
Evacuation operations for stranded trains are ongoing.
Spain's Minister of Transport, Oscar Puente, stated in a post on X that 116 trains are stranded due to the power outage.
ANDORRA AND SOME REGIONS OF FRANCE HAVE ALSO BEEN AFFECTED
Citizens in some regions of France bordering Andorra and Spain have also reported being affected by the power outage. According to the latest information, other outages have been reported as far as Belgium.
According to reports from the French press based on a statement from the Spanish electricity distributor REE, the areas affected by the widespread power outage also included southern France.
Reports based on statements from REN indicated that the outages in France occurred at points connected to the Spanish electricity grid.
No official statement has yet been made by the French electricity distribution company EDF regarding the outages.
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