Iberian Power Outage Disrupts Madrid Open, Daily Life

A massive power outage on April 28, 2025, affected Spain, Portugal, and parts of France, disrupting daily life for millions and halting major events, including the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament. The blackout, one of Europe's worst in years, impacted public transport, airports, businesses, mobile networks, traffic lights, and electronic payment systems. At the Madrid Open, matches were suspended mid-play, with players like Coco Gauff and Marta Kostyuk sharing their experiences navigating darkened facilities, while fans and commentators expressed frustration online. Grid operators cited 'anomalous oscillations' in high-voltage lines, possibly due to rare atmospheric phenomena and excess solar generation, as potential causes, but investigations are ongoing. Spanish and Portuguese authorities activated emergency plans, estimating power restoration would take 6-10 hours, with some areas recovering sooner. The incident has exposed vulnerabilities in Europe's integrated power grid and prompted reviews of grid stability and crisis response.