On April 28, 2024, at 12:33 PM, Spain’s power grid experienced a sudden loss of 15 gigawatts — 60% of the country’s total energy demand at the time. As Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated, this drop to zero capacity within 5 seconds marks a first in the nation’s history. Authorities have launched a large-scale investigation, leaving no hypothesis unexplored — from technical failures to external factors.
Recovery and Current Situation
Power supply is being restored gradually, but the ripple effects are felt across critical sectors:
Telecommunications: Mobile networks and internet services disrupted due to base station outages. Operators promise stabilization within hours.
Transportation:
- Aviation: 344 flights canceled out of 6,000 scheduled, with delays at major hubs.
- Railways: Crisis situation — over 100 trains halted, 35,000 passengers evacuated with emergency services.
- Road Traffic: Massive urban gridlocks, though no major accidents reported.
- Ports: Operating normally.
“This is an unprecedented incident requiring maximum transparency and coordination among all services,” Sánchez emphasized.
The government has established an emergency task force to:
1. Accelerate power restoration.
2. Support affected citizens (especially stranded train passengers).
3. Investigate the cause, including input from international experts.
What we know so far?
Cyberattacks, grid overloads, and power plant failures are under scrutiny.
85% of capacity restored within 12 hours, but some regions remain unstable.
Public Advisory: Avoid non-essential travel, conserve device batteries, and follow official updates.
The incident has stress-tested Spain’s infrastructure. Authorities will release a preliminary report within 72 hours, though a full investigation may take months. One thing is clear: Energy security strategies must evolve to address rising demand and climate challenges.