Airports, Metro Stations Come To A Halt, Streets In Chaos: Millions Hit By Europe's Mega Outage
Europe Power Outage: A widespread power outage knocked out electricity in major parts of Spain and Portugal on Monday, shutting off traffic lights and causing chaos at airports, train stations and on the roads.
The power outage affected road, rail and air traffic, out subway networks, phone lines, traffic lights and ATM machines, causing chaos in the region.
In Portugal, the outage hit the capital, Lisbon, and surrounding areas, as well as northern and southern parts of the country. Portugal's grid operator Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN) said electrical supply was lost across the entire Iberian peninsula, and in parts of France, reported CNN. It could be several hours until power is fully restored, Spain's grid operator said, meaning parts of the two countries could be plunged into darkness once the sun sets.
Several dramatic videos on the social media platforms showed how Spain and Portugal have plunged into chaos after the outage.
Barajas Airport in Madrid remains without power while the Valencia metro suspended all services. Metrovalencia, which encompasses both metro and tram services in Valencia, said there was disruption due to a 'general power outage". It added, 'The extent and duration of the outage are unknown."
Spain's national rail operator, Renfe, said no single service had been able to leave stations following the outage. Parts of Madrid underground have been evacuated and traffic lights in the city are not working, local media reported.
CNN. 'I saw a massive bus coming, and I had to accelerate a lot to go past it."
#Blackout in #Europe – Spain, Portugal, Belgium and France left without power and communications pic.twitter.com/7B1vpCLaeO — Oo ps (@ps_trump) April 28, 2025
Eerie footage shows commuters in Madrid being evacuated through tunnels as blackouts hit underground stations and halted trains.
A massive blackout sweeps across Europe, leaving countries like France, Spain, Belgium, and Portugal without power.The outage cripples critical infrastructure, shutting down airports, halting subway systems, and disrupting communication networks.
Authorities say the cause of… pic.twitter.com/tF3WM7phYP
— Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) April 28, 2025
Just in.Mass Blackouts in Spain, Portugal and in part of France.
Every single part of digital life from shops, to traffic lights, hospitals, airports, phones, and trains, all down. pic.twitter.com/ETDgtfE9wk
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) April 28, 2025
Metro system travellers in Lisbon were also seen attempting to use their phones in the pitch-black tunnels as staff assist with torches.
Airports have also been affected, with emergency generators turned on at Porto and Faro airport. Operations remain 'limited' at several airports, according to officials.
BREAKING 🚨: MAJOR POWER CUT has hit Spain, Portugal and France. The Madrid underground has been evacuated and trains have been stopped.Airports have come to a stop, traffic lights are out of order, and internet connectivity is unavailable.
The cause? Still unclear. pic.twitter.com/c2ICHuj6PR
— The British Patriot (@TheBritLad) April 28, 2025
Dozens of air travellers waiting in standstill traffic near Lisbon's airport have exited vehicles and opted to walk in a last ditch hope to catch their flight, footage obtained by The Telegraph showed. But when they arrived at the terminal, the travellers were met yet again with long queues.
In Madrid, hundreds of people stood in the streets outside office buildings and there was a heavy police presence around some important buildings, with officers directing traffic as well as driving along central atriums with lights.
🇪🇺 Major Blackouts Hit Western EuropeWidespread power outages hit Portugal, Spain, Andorra, and France. The cause remains unclear as of now. Some reports suggest a possible spread to Belgium and the Netherlands, though this isn't confirmed yet. pic.twitter.com/rrOPTkZh2j
— Conflict Dispatch (@ConflictDISP) April 28, 2025
Madrid's mayor José Luis Martinez Almeida asked people to minimize their movements and only call emergency services if it was truly urgent. He also called on people to stay clear of the roads for emergency workers. Later in the day, Madrid's emergency services provider urged the country's government to declare a national emergency.
Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated!
Location :
Spain
First Published:
News world Airports, Metro Stations Come To A Halt, Streets In Chaos: Millions Hit By Europe's Mega Outage | Videos
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
US teen influencer attempts solo flying to 7 continents to raise $1 million for cancer research, detained in Antarctica
Ethan Guo, 19, a social media influencer and pilot from the United States, was recently detained in Chile after allegedly landing in Antarctica without any official approval. Guo is currently attempting a solo mission to fly across all seven continents and raise $1 million for cancer research. According to CNN, Guo departed from Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Airport in Punta Arenas, Chile, aboard a Cessna 182Q, indicating he would only fly over the city. However, he altered his route and landed at Lieutenant Rodolfo Marsh Base, a region claimed by Chile. As per officials, he violated national and international aviation regulations by submitting a false flight plan. 'The accused provided false information to the aeronautical authority. He submitted a flight plan indicating that he was going to fly over the city of Punta Arenas. However, he continued toward Antarctica without informing anyone and without any authorisation, landing at the airfield of Lieutenant Rodolfo Marsh Base in Chilean Antarctic territory,' Cristian Crisosto Rifo, the regional prosecutor for Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica, said. 'With this behaviour, the accused seriously endangered the safety of air traffic to Antarctica and the Magallanes region,' he added. Guo has a massive fan following, with over a million followers on Instagram. He gained prominence with his videos capturing his flying journey since September. His last public update was posted on June 23, showing a flight over the Philippines. Following his unauthorised landing, Guo was immediately detained and charged by Chilean authorities. He will now be interrogated for 90 days, during which he is required to remain in Chile. At a press conference, Guo's attorney Karina Ulloa said her client encountered unexpected difficulties mid-flight. 'While already in the air, he began to experience a series of complications. He claims that he was conducting an exploratory flight to see if he could follow this route or not,' she said. Chilean prosecutors argued that the incident is a serious breach of aviation law and a threat to air safety in the region.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Heatwave in Europe disrupts train services, top of Eiffel Tower in Paris shut: Updates
Jul 01, 2025 04:19 PM IST Several parts of Europe are in the grips of the first major heatwave this summer, with health warnings in effect in multiple countries. A heat dome covered France, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey, with European forecasters indicating that other countries are likely to experience even more intense heat in the upcoming days, news agency Associated Press reported. Tourists hold umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun during a heatwave at the Trocadero square, in Paris, on June 30, 2025.(AFP) Heat warnings were issued for parts of Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, and the UK, with new highs expected on Wednesday before rain is forecast to bring respite to some areas later this week. Barcelona has recorded its hottest month of June since records started over a century ago, Spain's national weather service said on Tuesday. The Fabra Observatory, located on a hill overlooking Barcelona, reported an average temperature of 26 degrees Celsius, breaking records since 1914. The previous hottest average for June was 25.6 degrees Celsius in 2003. Also Read | Extreme heatwave hit US first time this year France's national weather agency, Météo-France, has placed several departments under the highest red alert, with the Paris region particularly hard hit. The top of the Eiffel Tower will be shut to visitors over the next two days, as temperatures in Paris climb as high as 41 Celsius on Tuesday. About 1,350 French schools are partially or fully closed due to extreme heat conditions, while more than 5,000 homes faced electricity cuts, according to Bloomberg. Also Read | How to Prepare Your Home for a Changing Climate Italy's health ministry said that 17 of its 27 major cities were experiencing a heat wave. In Bologna, one of the cities under a heat alert on Tuesday, a 46-year-old owner of a construction company collapsed and died while repaving a school parking lot, AP reported, citing state-run RAI. According to Bloomberg, temperatures across the Iberian peninsula could climb even higher, with 43C forecast for parts of Spain. Similar highs could be reached in Beja in Portugal, where a June record of 46.6C was recorded in Evora on Sunday. London could hit 34C, before cooling from Wednesday.
News18
3 days ago
- News18
Sun, Sand & Sky-High Fares: Can Goa's Tourism Buzz Beat The Airfare Blues?
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is preparing to take the issue to the Centre, seeking intervention to cap or regulate fares during the most crucial tourism months Goa's never-slowing crowd is back in full swing, but as the state rides the wave of a booming tourism season, there's a storm brewing overhead—sky-high airfare. This year, ticket prices to Goa during the peak season touched new heights—sometimes higher than international fares—worrying both travellers and the state government. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is preparing to take the issue to the Centre, seeking intervention to cap or regulate fares during the most crucial tourism months. In a move that reflects growing concern among stakeholders, the chief minister plans to formally write to the government to push for more affordable air travel to the beach state. 'When domestic tickets cost more than a trip abroad, it starts hurting Goa's core travel economy," Sawant told CNN-News18. Despite the airfare worries, Goa is seeing impressive tourist turnout—even in the off-season. Monsoon in Goa has gone from being a 'slow period' to a magnet for travellers seeking lush greenery, peaceful beaches, and quieter stays. In fact, hotel occupancy currently ranges between 80–90 per cent, and villas across the state are booked to full occupancy. What's changed? Quite a bit. The Goa government has overhauled how tourism properties are managed, with mandatory registration of all villas. There's now a simplified single-window clearance system and only five permits are required to run a tourism unit. Online registration has been introduced to reduce red tape and keep middlemen out as part of a broader push to formalise the tourism economy and make the state more travel- and investor-friendly. 'Goa is also placing women's safety at the front and centre. The innovative Pink Force, with female officers in pink uniforms, now responds to women's distress calls within five minutes—a model many other states could take cues from," Sawant told CNN-News18. In a bid to protect its environment, Goa has also restricted tourists from bringing camping or self-cooking gear across borders. It has also allocated Rs 400 crore for waste management and banned all dance bars state-wide. When it comes to gaming, the rules are clear—only six off-shore casinos are allowed, while others in five-star hotels are permitted mechanised games only. The government is now embracing cutting-edge tech, including Artificial Intelligence, to boost smart tourism and visitor experience. As per official data, Goa saw a combined tourism growth of 8.65 per cent in the first five months of 2025 compared to the same period last year. Domestic Tourist Visits (DTVs) 2024 (Jan–May): 40.68 lakh 2025 (Jan–May): 43.75 lakh Growth: 7.57 per cent April 2025 stood out with a 12.22 per cent jump, while May showed signs of saturation with only 0.76 per cent growth. Foreign Tourist Visits (FTVs) 2024 (Jan–May): 1.66 lakh 2025 (Jan–May): 2.45 lakh Growth: 47.55 per cent January 2025 saw an 83.25 per cent rise in international visitors, though the momentum slowed sharply by May. With a global spotlight on India and foreign interest growing, Goa is eager to keep its beaches open, its economy buzzing, and its skies more affordable. So, can cheaper air tickets become the next big tourism booster? That's what the state hopes to achieve.
