A massive power outage struck Spain and Portugal, affecting crucial infrastructure such as traffic lights, ATMs, phone lines, and subway systems, causing significant disruptions in cities like Madrid and Lisbon. The electricity demand in Spain plummeted drastically around noon, indicating a severe problem with the distribution network, although the exact cause remains undetermined. Emergency meetings were convened by both governments to address the crisis, as panic buying of essentials occurred in supermarkets. Airports in Spain operated on backup systems, leading to some flight delays, while the Madrid Open tennis tournament was suspended. Efforts to restore power are underway, with Red Eléctrica reporting gradual voltage restoration across affected regions of the Iberian Peninsula.

The power outage in Spain and Portugal resulted in the failure of critical city infrastructures, leading to non-functioning traffic lights, ATMs, and phone lines, and necessitating the evacuation of subway systems, causing chaos and disruptions in daily activities.

Spain's electricity demand dramatically dropped from 27,500 megawatts to near 15,000 around 12:15 p.m., pointing to a significant issue with the distribution network, which is still under investigation to determine the exact cause.

The Portuguese National Cybersecurity Center confirmed there was no indication of a cyberattack being responsible for the outage, providing some relief amidst the uncertainty surrounding the incident.

Air travel was affected as Spanish airports switched to backup power systems, and flights experienced delays, while the Lisbon Airport warned travelers of potential operational constraints due to the power outage.

The governments of Spain and Portugal held emergency cabinet meetings to manage the situation, as citizens began panic buying necessities, highlighting the widespread impact and urgency of restoring normalcy.

Red Eléctrica, the grid operator, reported gradual voltage restoration at substations across the Iberian Peninsula, marking progress in addressing the unprecedented and extraordinary outage.

Public events were disrupted, with the ATP Tour suspending matches at the Madrid Open tennis tournament, and public transport systems in cities like Madrid and Lisbon coming to a halt due to the power failure.