So far, the causes of the blackout remain unknown, according to local media.
Large parts of Spain and Portugal, and possibly more countries, are without electricity due to blackouts.
Portuguese newspaper Diário de Notícias reported on April 28 that a widespread blackout had hit both countries.
Diarioarea reported that all of Spain is currently without electricity, leaving everything from operations half-finished to people trapped in elevators.
Data from Spain’s national grid showed that it lost more than 10 gigawatts of demand in a few seconds.
Publico reported that Portuguese Cabinet Minister Manuel Castro Almeida said that the energy blackout affecting Portugal may be due to a cyberattack and is also affecting Spain, France, and Germany.
Speaking to RTP 3, when asked about the possibility of it being a cyber attack, Manuel Castro Almeida said that “there is this possibility, but it is not confirmed.”
“I know that it covers several countries of Europe—Portugal, Spain, France, and Germany, and I believe Morocco as well,” Castro Almeida said.
“But it’s unconfirmed information.”
Spain’s national electricity transmission system operator, Red Eléctrica, confirmed power outages across the country.
In a statement on social media platform X, the company said that “plans to restore the electricity supply have been activated.”
Portugal’s Public Security Police warned that, given the scenario of a general lack of electricity across the country, traffic will become “an even greater challenge.”