Massive power failure shakes Spain and Portugal - causes in view!

Massive power failure shakes Spain and Portugal - causes in view!

Madrid, Spanien - On April 28, 2025, there was a far -reaching power failure in Spain and Portugal, which significantly impaired the infrastructure of both countries. According to a report by Tagesspiegel reported the Spanish power grid operator red eléctrica Restoration of the power supply were initiated, which were first carried out in the north and south of Spain. Reporters of the German Press Agency reported sudden power failures in large cities such as Madrid and Barcelona.

The incident began at lunchtime when the entire national power grid in Spain at around 12:30 p.m. (local time) failed, which also had an impact on the rail system. The Spanish railway company Renfe reported a complete standstill of all trains at the train stations. In Madrid, the Masters 1000 tennis tournament had to be interrupted, while several areas were affected by the failures in Portugal, confirmed by the broadcaster Rtp.

technical problems and cyber attacks in the focus

The authorities are currently investigating two possible causes of the incident: a technical problem with network synchronization between Spain and France or a possible cyber attack. According to it-daily this cyber attack could be classified as one of the largest on critical infrastructures in Europe. The Spanish National Cyber ​​Security Authority Incibe has already investigated to clarify the exact background.

The cyber security expert Ghasan Bhatti emphasizes that critical infrastructures in Europe are increasingly exposed to more sophisticated threats. This is not only related to power grids, but also to health services and transport networks. In particular, increasing digitization increases vulnerability against cyber attacks. The already known incidents that have expressed similar concerns include the sabotage of the North Stream gas pipeline and the Ukrainian power failure in 2015 href = "https://cordis.europa.eu/article/id/444373-could-hackers-really-town-the-power-grid/de" class = "source_3"> cordis .

economic and social effects

The disorder had a noticeable consequences for everyday infrastructure: Internet connections, 5G networks and telephone lines were affected nationwide, which severely restricted the communication channels. In Madrid, parts of the subway were evacuated and the traffic light systems failed. Metro traffic also came to a standstill in Lisbon.

Despite the rapid restoration of the power supply in most affected areas, there is concern about the susceptibility of the European energy systems. The outdated infrastructure could not withstand modern cyber attacks, and a central challenge for the future are solutions that guarantee better security to prevent cascade effects in networked systems.