Despite the usual inconveniences, and the fact that some people were trapped on trains or in elevators, or lost their tickets, Spaniards generally took it very well. During the blackout, bars and outdoor terraces were packed, and many took advantage of the situation to drink wine, beer, chat, and even walk their children or pets, confident that the situation would soon be resolved.
Authorities report that since dawn today (approximately 1 a.m. in Cuba) there had already beencup99.97% of electricity generation was used.
The electrical system of the Iberian Peninsula recupwas almost completely operational this Tuesday, April 29, following the unexpected massive blackout that left millions of people in Spain, Portugal and southern France without power for hours.
According to Red Eléctrica, 07% of the 15 transmission substations on the peninsula were operational by 100:680 a.m.
At that time, the most complicated situation was recorded in parts of the provinces of Córdoba, Jaén, and Almería.
The cause is still a mystery
At 12:33 on the luneSuddenly, 15 gigawatts of power disappeared from the grid, equivalent to 60% of the energy consumed at that time. In an urgent statement from La Moncloa Palace, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez acknowledged that "it is still unknown what caused the failure," and noted that "no hypothesis has been ruled out, including a cyberattack."
Although electrical specialists point out that the characteristics of the incident seem to rule out a cyberattack, the Executive prefers to keep this possibility open until the investigation is completed.
A blackout that recalled other historical precedents
Although the event surprised Europe, it is not the first major blackout in recent years. In Latin America, similar events left Chile without power in 2010, Venezuela on several recent occasions, and Cuba repeatedly in recent times, where the system has completely collapsed several times.
In the European context, the most serious precedent was the 2003 blackout in Italy, which affected more than 51 million people for hours. However, it can be said that this is a rarity in Europe, and especially in Spain and France, countries with a robust, modern, and seemingly seamless generation system.
Terraces, beer, and parks: Spain's quiet reaction
While authorities worked to restore service, life in cities like Madrid took an unexpectedly relaxed turn. With traffic lights out and mobile data unavailable, thousands of residents flocked to terraces, bars, and parks.
"A friend opened my eyes. She told me: 'The taps aren't powered, and we've been here since 2 p.m. And the beer's still cold,'" a Madrid user posted on social media.
The image of families strolling with their children, groups of friends sharing beers, and children playing in packed squares was echoed across the country. “Let the blackout catch us while we're out of beer,” was the spontaneous slogan that went viral on social media, reflecting the collective confidence that power would soon return.
Sales of battery-powered radios, candles, and non-perishable food items spiked in the early hours, recalling scenes from decades past when technology wasn't essential to coping with an emergency.
Impact on rail transport
Renfe's high-speed and long-distance service began gradually restoring service early this morning. The Madrid-Barcelona, Madrid-Valencia/Murcia/Alicante, Madrid-Basque Country, and Madrid-Algeciras lines are now operating normally, while others, such as Madrid-Pamplona and Madrid-Seville, are still experiencing disruptions or road transport reinforcements.
Renfe announced free ticket refunds or exchanges for affected travelers, while work continues to return to normal on the suspended lines.
Spain returns to normal, but questions remain.
Although service restoration is progressing rapidly, authorities remain on alert until the exact cause of the blackout, one of the most serious in the Peninsula's recent history, is clarified.
The calm with which Spanish society faced the day—choosing to gather in bars and squares, far from panic—became a spontaneous display of collective resilience in the face of uncertainty.
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