Summary

Media caption,

Watch: Disruption continues in Madrid as power resumes

  1. As life returns to normal, authorities scramble to determine cause of power outagepublished at 17:11 British Summer Time 29 April

    Stranded passengers wait with their luggage at Sants Station as widespread railway disruptions continue in BarcelonaImage source, Getty Images

    As life begins to return to normal in Spain and Portugal, questions still remain about what caused yesterday's widespread power outage.

    Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the government will consider all possible "hypotheses" in an update earlier today. The Portuguese government and Spain's power grid have ruled out a cyber attack.

    An investigative commission has been launched in Spain and a request has been made by the Portuguese government for an EU agency to perform an independent audit.

    Our climate and science team have looked into some of the possibilities - with one suggestion being that the incident could have been linked to renewable energy.

    Meanwhile, transport continues to be disrupted in the region after hundreds of flights departing Portuguese and Spanish airports were cancelled yesterday and today.

    We've also been hearing your stories of the blackout - from the couple left stranded for more than 11 hours to the violinist enjoying beers with friends by candlelight.

    We are ending our live coverage but you can continue to follow the latest developments across BBC News:

  2. Teaching in the dark and 'post-apocalyptic' scenes : Your stories of the blackoutpublished at 16:44 British Summer Time 29 April

    A packed shopping aisle in a supermarket with little to no light.Image source, Getty Images

    The mass power outage that occurred in Spain and Portugal on Monday left millions without electricity, causing disruption across transport networks, schools and hospitals.

    Let's take a look at some of the stories you shared with the BBC:

    • Hua Fah and her partner described the power outage as a "complete mess" when they were left stranded for more than 11 hours after their train to Barcelona stopped around 200 miles from its destination
    • Jonny Stokes from London described the scene in Seville as "a bit post-apocalyptic and pretty scary", after traffic lights went out and police were everywhere
    • Emily, a teacher in Lisbon, said she was "teaching in the dark" yesterday, and that many parents took their children out of school early
    • Classical violinist Isaac Bifet was forced to abandon rehearsals in Madrid due to the power outage, and ended the day enjoying beers with friends by candlelight
    • Will David, in Lisbon said the power cut happened while he was mid-haircut at the barbers. Luckily, the barber finished the cut with scissors instead of the electric razor and left him looking "halfway presentable"
    • Jessica Lopez and Olvyn Lanza from Iowa were locked out of their Airbnb because the electric door didn't work. The couple ended up spending four hours walking through the streets of Madrid trying to find somewhere to sleep

  3. Were you without power in Spain or Portugal?published at 16:20 British Summer Time 29 April

    A BBC graphic reading: 'Get in touch'

    Get in touch with us to tell us what piece of equipment you wished you had to get you through the day?

    Or maybe you were well-equipped for the power cut. What piece of equipment was the most helpful to you?

    You can contact us via:

    In some cases a selection of your comments and questions will be published, displaying your name and location as you provide it unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published.

  4. European Commission to initiate 'thorough investigation' into power outagepublished at 16:12 British Summer Time 29 April

    Dan Jorgensen, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing looks ahead, wearing a black suit and tie.Image source, EPA

    The European Commission will initiate a "thorough investigation" of the power outages in Spain and Portugal on Monday, the European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jorgensen says in a post on X.

    Describing the blackout as the "most severe for almost two decades in Europe", Jorgensen says "we stand ready to support Spain and Portugal in all possible ways".

  5. Fishmonger enjoyed his produce after ice started to meltpublished at 15:43 British Summer Time 29 April

    Nick Beake
    Reporting from Madrid

    Paco Soto smiles at the camera

    Many small business are counting the cost of the total power failure on Monday, which affected large swathes of Spain and Portugal.

    At a city centre market - Mercado de la Cebada - fishmonger Paco Soto told us how they sold as much as they could after the electricity went out and their ice started to melt.

    Paco grins as he describes enjoying the rest of the fish, which he - and others - washed down with beers.

    However, not everyone was so fortunate. A few stalls down, at an ice cream shop, Christian Rosa estimates he lost €500 worth of produce.

    “Yesterday was terrible” he tells us. “I’m hoping today is a better day.”

  6. Spanish government to investigate causes of power cutpublished at 15:30 British Summer Time 29 April

    Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wears a suit and tie and speaks behind a podium with two microphones.Image source, EPA

    We can also bring you earlier comments from the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on the efforts his government is making to understand the causes of the power outage.

    Sánchez said an investigative commission has been set up in Spain to look into the widespread power cut yesterday.

    "All the necessary measures will be taken to ensure that this does not happen again," Sánchez told a press conference.

    The commission will be led by Spain's Ministry of Ecological Transition, which will work with the Spanish National Cybersecurity Institute, the National Cryptology Centre and the National Competition Market Commission.

    It comes after the Spanish High Court earlier announced a separate investigation to establish whether the incident could have been caused by a cyberattack, which would be classed as a crime of terrorism.

  7. Portugal asks Brussels for independent audit of power outage - PMpublished at 15:15 British Summer Time 29 April

    Portugal's Prime Minister Luis MontenegroImage source, EPA

    Portugal's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said his government has requested the EU's Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators to perform an independent audit of the power outage that hit the Iberian Peninsula yesterday.

    "We want a full investigation of the outage's causes," he told a news briefing. "We need quick, urgent answers."

    Portugal's government earlier ruled out a cyberattack as the cause of the power cut, saying there seemed to have been an "issue in the power transmission network" in Spain.

    This came after Spain's power company reached the same conclusion.

  8. Madrid metro returns to '100% normality' - transport ministerpublished at 14:57 British Summer Time 29 April

    Several people enter the Marques de Vadillo Metro station after service was restored due to the blackoutImage source, Getty Images

    Spain's Transport Minister Oscar Puente says Madrid's rail and metro service has returned to normal "with 100% of traffic operating".

    Earlier, we reported that Barcelona's metro system as well as Valencia and Bilbao's underground were back to normal,

    Trains remain suspended in the Galicia and Extremadura regions; while services serving the Basque Country, Valencia, Zaragoza, Seville and Asturias areas are running but with some delays.

    Elsewhere, Spanish airport operator Aena - which manages 46 airports and two heliports in Spain - says all of its airports "are operational and have been throughout the night and throughout yesterday, thanks to the contingency electrical systems".

  9. Couple left stranded for 11 hours after train stoppedpublished at 14:46 British Summer Time 29 April

    Cameron Murdoch
    Reporting from Zaragoza

    Hua Fah and Yong-Wei Ma wear glasses and smile looking ahead as people stand in the background.Image source, Cameron Murdoch

    Hua Fah, 32, and her partner Yong-Wei Ma, 32, were left stranded for more than 11 hours after their train to Barcelona stopped around 200 miles from its destination due to the power outage.

    Passengers had no food, electricity or air conditioning while they were trapped on the train. Those who wanted to continue to Barcelona had to decide between sleeping in Zaragoza station or searching for last-minute accommodation.

    The couple decided to split €560 (£477) on an Uber with two others so they could catch their flight to Canada at Barcelona airport.

    They made their flight but admitted the experience was a "complete mess" that left them "exhausted".

    "Spain was a beautiful country but dangerous," Yong-Wei said. "I am sad to not see the Sagrada Familia. We were meant to see it yesterday evening. But, it's time to say goodbye."

  10. Hundreds of flights cancelled due to power outagepublished at 14:29 British Summer Time 29 April

    Simon Browning
    Transport producer

    Several people sitting in terminal T4 of the Adolfo Suarez-Madrid Barajas airportImage source, Getty Images

    A total of 185 flights departing Portuguese airports were cancelled yesterday due to the power cuts and 187 arrivals cancelled.

    Today, Lisbon airport's website is currently showing most flights departing as scheduled, with just a handful of cancellations.

    Aviation data company Cirium also notes that 205 flights departing Spanish airports were cancelled and 208 arrivals cancelled. The worst affected being Seville with 33% departures cancelled; while Almeria had 18% departures cancelled.

    Eurocontrol manages air traffic across Europe and it tells me around 36 aircraft were diverted to alternative airports yesterday and there were around 700 fewer movements in Spain-Portugal compared to a few weeks ago.

    One aviation industry source tells me UK-based airlines operating to and from Spain and Portugal do not face an overwhelming task to bring people, who were caught up in yesterday’s disruption, home - even if they have to wait one extra day to get back.

    The impact of the outage was not as great as it could have been, they add, as yesterday’s incident happened midweek and airlines are in a quiet period after Easter - so they have capacity. It would have been more problematic if this happened at the weekend.

    EasyJet says it plans to operate a normal schedule today and Jet2 had no cancellations yesterday and today.

  11. 'All the traffic lights went out - it felt post-apocalyptic'published at 14:17 British Summer Time 29 April

    James Kelly
    UGC Hub

    Jonny Stokes and his friends smiling at the camera with several people seated in the background.

    Jonny Stokes from London spent the night on the floor of Seville airport after his flight was cancelled.

    Jonny, 31, had been enjoying a weekend away with friends but it turned “scary” and “post-apocalyptic” when the major power outage struck across Spain.

    “The first we knew about the outage was when we were buying beers but our payment wasn’t going through – so they gave it to us for free," Jonny says.

    “All the traffic lights went out, there was traffic chaos and crashes, and police everywhere. It was a bit post-apocalyptic and pretty scary," he adds.

    Jonny and his friends were able to get a bus to the airport after a German family lent them money, because they had no cash.

    “The pilot tried to get our flight off yesterday but all of air traffic control was affected so we ended up sleeping on the floor of the airport," he says.

  12. Portugal rules out cyberattack as cause of power cut - spokesmanpublished at 14:03 British Summer Time 29 April
    Breaking

    Portugal's government has ruled out a cyberattack as the cause of the power cut that hit the country and Spain yesterday.

    This comes after Spain's power company reached the same conclusion earlier.

    Government spokesman Antonio Leitao Amaro tells CNN Portugal: "We have no information related to a cyberattack or a hostile act at this stage."

    He added that "there would seem to have been an issue in the power transmission network" in Spain.

    Portugal's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said yesterday there was "no indication" that a cyberattack was behind the power cut.

  13. British woman 'stuck on plane on runway for six hours'published at 13:52 British Summer Time 29 April

    James Kelly
    BBC News

    Rebecca Berry, 22, from Hampshire, is stuck in the Canary Islands after her flight yesterday was cancelled, despite reassurances it would not be affected by the power cut in Spain and Portugal.

    This was her first holiday abroad – a trip to Tenerife to celebrate a friend's birthday – but the five-night trip has already become a six-night stay.

    Rebecca says her original flight was due to fly out at 18:50 local time yesterday, with passengers boarded onto the plane on time.

    "We waited 30 minutes for an update, and they told us we were now delayed by an hour as our time slot had moved for some reason," she says.

    "At that point, they handed out a small packet of biscuits and a cup of water to everyone."

    But passengers were then told the ground crew had missed the flight's slot, so it couldn't taxi to the runway.

    Despite reassurances it would take off, passengers "started getting angry and hungry" after three hours on the plane, she says.

    "We were told they cannot give us food as they are not in the air. Newborn babies did not have enough formula," she adds.

    "After nearly six hours, we were told the flight is cancelled due to the airspace being closed, not enough fuel to go over Africa, and the crew being over on their flight hours so we could not go an alternative route."

    Finally making it to a hotel room organised by the airline at 02:30 local time, Rebecca says she was unable to find out when her flight would be rescheduled.

    She says the group was meant to be picked up at 11:30 today to go to the airport - and are "hoping for the best now".

    Rebecca Berry is seen with her hand holding up her chin in a selfieImage source, HANDOUT
  14. Good news in Faro: Flights are on time. Bad news: It's cloudypublished at 13:45 British Summer Time 29 April

    Rich Preston
    Reporting from Faro

    A solar-powered metal 'tree' with charging points attached outside an airport terminal in Faro
    Image caption,

    Many may be relieved to see this charging tree outside the terminal building - it's solar-powered, rather than relying on mains power

    Outside Portugal’s Faro airport, streams of British holidaymakers are emerging from the airport.

    Many of them had been concerned that their flights or holiday plans would be scuppered - but instead, flights seem to be running on time and the airport is working normally.

    But in a very British way - and in a twist of irony - the biggest gripe amongst tourists arriving here today is that it’s cloudy.

  15. What's happened so far today?published at 13:42 British Summer Time 29 April

    A large group of people wait due to the cancellation or delays of their trains at Sants train station in BarcelonaImage source, EPA
    Image caption,

    Passengers at Sants train station in Barcelona have been waiting for updates on their travel plans following delays and cancellations

    • It's still unclear what caused yesterday's massive power cut that left millions in Spain and Portugal without electricity for several hours
    • Power has been restored in both countries, but transport is still in chaos, with flights and trains reporting delays
    • Spain's power company REE has ruled out a cyber-attack - echoing comments from other officials yesterday - although the Spanish government is considering all possible "hypotheses"
    • Meanwhile, Spain's High Court has said it would open an investigation to determine whether a cyber-attack is a possibility
    • The Spanish power company Red Electrica said there were two consecutive "disconnection events" yesterday - the system dealt with the first, but couldn't cope with the second. It said there's nothing to suggest human error
    • Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said what happened "cannot happen again", adding that his government would hold private firms to account - you can read a recap of his statement
    • A woman died during the blackout in a fire at her flat in Madrid - police believe it may have been caused by a candle
  16. Underground workers made every effort to restore Madrid's vital infrastructure - ministerpublished at 13:25 British Summer Time 29 April

    A woman uses her mobile phone at a metro station in MadridImage source, Getty Images

    Madrid's minister for housing, transport and infrastructure says the entire Metro network is now back up and running.

    As we reported earlier, most of the network reopened in time for the morning rush hour.

    Jorge Rodrigo Dominguez has confirmed the last section, Line 7A from the north of the city out to the east, is "operating normally".

    "This has been achieved thanks to the work of the underground professionals, who have made every effort to restore vital infrastructure for the people of Madrid as quickly as possible," Dominguez says.

    "My sincere thanks for rising to the occasion, once again, in an exceptional and unprecedented situation."

  17. Spain's High Court to open probe into power cutpublished at 13:12 British Summer Time 29 April

    Spain's High Court says it will open an investigation into yesterday's power cut to find out whether it could have been caused by a cyberattack.

    Judge José Luis Calama says in a court document that such an attack, which would be classed as a crime of terrorism, is one of the possible causes being considered.

    This comes after Spain's power company REE ruled out a cyberattack as the cause of the blackout.

    Earlier, the Spanish prime minister said the government is still considering all possible “hypotheses”.

  18. Key takeaways from Spanish PM's latest updates as he thanks France and Moroccopublished at 12:53 British Summer Time 29 April

    Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez provides an update on the situation of the country a day after the massive power outage during a press conferenceImage source, EPA

    As promised, here are the main points from the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who spoke earlier at Moncloa Palace in Madrid:

    • Sánchez said it’s clear the Spanish electrical system failed at 12:33, and the government will be investigating what happened “in those five seconds”
    • The Spanish power firm REE has ruled out a cyber attack, but the government is still considering all possible “hypotheses”
    • “There was no problem of excess renewables,” Sánchez says
    • “What happened cannot happen again,” Sánchez told reporters, saying the government wants to ensure accountability
    • Spain was able to restore electricity thanks to connections with France and Morocco
  19. Spanish PM wraps up his news conferencepublished at 12:40 British Summer Time 29 April

    Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's news conference has now finished.

    We'll bring you a summary of the key points he made soon.

  20. Mobile phones and fibre optics now working in 90% of the country - Sánchezpublished at 12:27 British Summer Time 29 April

    Earlier in his statement, Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez says more than 35,000 rail passengers were affected by train cancellations yesterday, while several parts of the country are still without service today.

    Despite this, airports, ports and roads are now operating as usual, he says, adding that mobile telephone and fibre optics are working in 90% of the country.

    Sánchez also says the government has decided to release three days' worth of strategic reserves of petroleum products that may be needed.