Power Slowly Restored Across Iberian Peninsula After Major Blackout

A massive and unprecedented power outage struck Spain, Portugal, and parts of southern France, leaving tens of millions without electricity and disrupting trains, metros, airports, telecommunications, and critical services. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that authorities were working urgently to restore power, and by Monday evening, about half of Spain's electricity supply had been reconnected, with restoration efforts ongoing. The blackout caused significant disruptions, including halted public transport, grounded planes, and interruptions to hospitals, businesses, and daily life, prompting emergency cabinet meetings and a heightened security presence. Red Eléctrica, Spain's grid operator, reported that regions across the country began regaining electricity progressively, though the telecommunications system remained fragile and citizens were urged to limit phone use. The exact cause of the outage remains unknown, with officials cautioning against speculation while noting that extreme temperature variations were initially suggested as a factor. Authorities continue to prioritize restoring essential services and investigating the incident as normal operations are gradually resumed.