The Madrid Open tennis tournament venue is empty during a general blackout in Madrid, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)2025-04-28T11:29:59Z BARCELONA, Spain (AP) A blackout brought much of Spain and Portugal to a standstill Monday, halting subway and railway trains, cutting phone service and shutting down traffic lights and ATM machines for the 50 million people who live across the Iberian Peninsula.Spanish power distributor Red Elctrica said that restoring power fully to the country and neighboring Portugal could take 6-10 hours. By mid-afternoon, voltage was progressively being restored in the north, south and west of the peninsula, the company said. Passengers wait outside Atocha train station during a nationwide power outage in Madrid, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Passengers wait outside Atocha train station during a nationwide power outage in Madrid, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More The company declined to speculate on the causes of the huge blackout. The Portuguese National Cybersecurity Center issued a statement saying there was no sign the outage was due to a cyberattack.Eduardo Prieto, head of operations at Red Elctrica, told journalists it was unprecedented, calling the event exceptional and extraordinary. Spanish and Portuguese capitals among affected areasThe outage hit across Spain and Portugal, including their capitals, Madrid and Lisbon. Offices closed and traffic was snarled as traffic lights stopped working. It was not possible to make calls on some mobile phone networks, though some apps were working. In Barcelona, residents walked into stores searching for battery-powered radios and civilians directed traffic at junctions along the Gran Via avenue that cuts through the city. A medical staffer relocates a patient during a nationwide power outage in Pamplona, northern Spain, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses) A medical staffer relocates a patient during a nationwide power outage in Pamplona, northern Spain, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More The countries have a combined population of over 50 million people. It was not immediately clear how many were affected. It is rare to have such a widespread outage across the Iberian Peninsula. Authorities said the cause was not immediately known, though one Portuguese official said the problem appeared to be with the electricity distribution network in Spain.Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Snchez convened an extraordinary meeting of Spains National Security Council and visited Red Elctrica to follow efforts at restoring grid operations. Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said he has spoken several times to Sanchez and expected power to be restored by the end of the day Passengers roam outside Atocha train station during a nationwide power outage in Madrid, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Passengers roam outside Atocha train station during a nationwide power outage in Madrid, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Motorists drive past traffic lights that stopped working following a power outage in downtown Lisbon, Portugal, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Motorists drive past traffic lights that stopped working following a power outage in downtown Lisbon, Portugal, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More The Portuguese Cabinet convened an emergency meeting at the prime ministers residence.Portugals government said the outage appeared to stem from problems outside the country, an official told national news agency Lusa.It looks like it was a problem with the distribution network, apparently in Spain. Its still being ascertained, Cabinet Minister Leito Amaro was quoted as saying.Portuguese distributor E-Redes said the outage was due to a problem with the European electricity system, according to Portuguese newspaper Expresso. The company said it was compelled to cut power in specific areas to stabilize the network, according to Expresso. The outage hit just after middaySpains public broadcaster RTVE said a major power outage hit several regions of the country just after midday local time, leaving its newsroom, Spains parliament in Madrid and subway stations across the country in the dark.A graph on Spains electricity network website showing demand across the country indicated a steep drop around 12:15 p.m. from 27,500MW to near 15,000MW. Spectators walk out of the Madrid Open tennis tournament venue during a general blackout in Madrid, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Spectators walk out of the Madrid Open tennis tournament venue during a general blackout in Madrid, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More The Madrid Open tennis tournament venue is empty during a general blackout in Madrid, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) The Madrid Open tennis tournament venue is empty during a general blackout in Madrid, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Spanish airports were operating on backup electrical systems and some flights were delayed, according to Aena, the company that runs 56 airports in Spain including Madrid and Barcelona.In Lisbon, terminals closed and throngs of tourists sat outside in the sun and the shade waiting for news about their flights.We havent seen any plane arriving or departing in the 50 minutes weve been waiting here, Dutch tourist Marc Brandsma told The Associated Press.Train services in both countries ground to a halt. Video aired on Spanish television showed people evacuating metro stations in Madrid and empty stations with trains stopped in Barcelona. The Spanish Parliament in Madrid closed and play at the Madrid Open tennis tournament was suspended. Three matches were underway when power went down.Spains traffic department asked citizens to avoid using their cars as much as possible due to the power outage, which has affected traffic lights and electrical road signage.Barcelonas streets filled with throngs of people on sidewalks, milling about in front of darkened stores and offices and exchanging information on what had happened. The hunt for connectivityImmediate concerns were which phone companies still had some, at least, spotty coverage, or where internet access might be found. Another concern was how to get home with the subway shut and public buses packed. Some took advantage of the lack of connectivity and transport to enjoy the sunshine on restaurant terraces. In Terrassa, an industrial town 50 kilometers (30 miles) from Barcelona, stores selling generators were out of stock after people lined up to buy them.In Portugal, a country of some 10.6 million people, the outage hit Lisbon and surrounding areas, as well as northern and southern parts. Portuguese police placed more officers on duty to direct traffic and cope with increased requests for help, including from people trapped in elevators. Hospitals and other emergency services in both Spain and Portugal switched to generators. Gas stations stopped working. Portugals National Authority for Emergencies and Civil Protection said backup power systems were operating. Traffic lights stopped working following a power outage in downtown Lisbon, Portugal, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Traffic lights stopped working following a power outage in downtown Lisbon, Portugal, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Several Lisbon subway cars were evacuated, reports said. Also in Portugal, courts stopped work and ATMs and electronic payment systems were affected. ___Hatton reported from Lisbon, Portugal. Joe Wilson in Barcelona contributed. RENATA BRITO Brito leads international migration coverage for The Associated Press. She is based out of Barcelona, Spain. twitter instagram mailto