How was the electricity blackout in Spain and Portugal

On Monday, April 28, we witnessed a widespread blackout that affected Spain, Portugal, and Andorra. It also partially affected Italy, France, and Germany.

At approximately 12:30 a.m., households in these countries experienced a power outage that did not seem alarming at first, until it became clear that it was something much larger. As expected, people began using their mobile data to gather as much information as possible—until the internet also became unavailable. The only device through which they could obtain information was a battery-powered radio.

How people lived the blackout

This outage abruptly disrupted all (or nearly all) of the citizens’ activities. Bad day to be a digital nomad. Stores and supermarkets were left without power, and cash became the only available method of payment in many establishments, traffic lights were off, subway stations were overwhelmed, and trains came to a halt in the middle of nowhere.

In response to the incident, telecommunications and digital service companies were forced to act, not only by managing the service disruptions but also by communicating effectively.

Telefónica, the Spanish telecommunications multinational, published a statement on its profile on X (formerly Twitter) at 4:05 p.m., informing the public that it had activated its crisis committee and was following the protocols outlined in its Contingency Plan.

Likewise, within the digital sector, not only telecommunications companies experienced service issues. Another company affected by the blackout was YouTube. The platform used its “TeamYouTube” account on X, which it is used to provide updates and service information, to report that some of its customer support team members were unable to carry out their work due to the blackout:

Due to the widespread power outages affecting parts of Europe, some YouTube customer support teams are currently offline, including @TeamYouTube support in related European languages. We’re working to support our teams and resume any impacted support cases as soon as possible.

— TeamYouTube (@TeamYouTube) April 28, 2025

Meanwhile, those without internet access had only two ways to learn about what was happening: going outside to speak with their neighbors or using a battery-powered radio. In fact, according to Idealo, radio and radio equipment proved essential during the blackout, with searches increasing by 205% and 180%, respectively.

A Wake-Up call

The massive blackout revealed not only our dependence on electricity but also sparked a new awareness about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. After electricity and communication were restored, citizens turned their attention to searching for products that would help them be better prepared for similar events in the future.

• Candles and portable batteries: demand doubled within 24 hours.
• Portable stoves: experienced an 82% increase in demand.

For now, the cause of the blackout remains unknown.

What social media had to say

Naturally, social media—a vital element in experiencing historical events in the 21st century—quickly took to reporting and, of course, creating numerous memes about this historic event mainly in X and TikTok.

@starxboy24 a minha luz só voltou às 21 e tal, e a vcs?? #portugal🇵🇹 #spain🇪🇸 #fyp #apagao #blackout ♬ original sound – Jordan🧿🪬

Once the network and electricity were restored, citizens began posting to their social media profiles, sharing how they had experienced the day of the blackout and what it was like to have the power return.

@maggyoutthere | moment when electricity returned to portugal!! #europeblackout #portugalapagao #portugal ♬ original sound – maggy ☆。*

The majority? They went outside, sought out their relatives and friends, spoke with strangers… everyone came together as a community to make the catastrophe a little more bearable.

@annainbarcelona Blackout in Barcelona? No problem, grab a beer and get to your nearest sunny plaza 🍺☀️ #apagon #apagón #apagónnacional #blackout #spainblackout #apagonespaña #apagonmundial #apagonbarcelona ♬ ¡Ay, Paquita! (Performed by ROSALÍA) – Paquita Salas

Image: GPT4o