The large-scale power outage that occurred in Spain on Monday, April 28, was preceded by multiple disruptions in the country’s power grid. According to Reuters, industry representatives had repeatedly warned about the instability of the electricity network in the days leading up to the incident.
The report states that in the week before the blackout, several regions of Spain experienced power surges and local outages. On April 22, for example, disruptions in the electricity supply affected railway signaling systems, causing at least ten high-speed trains to stop near Madrid. Transport Minister Óscar Puente explained that substations had automatically shut down to protect themselves from excessive voltage.
On the same day, power issues also disrupted operations at a Repsol oil refinery in the city of Cartagena.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the government had launched an investigation into the blackout, which affected train services, airport operations, and left people trapped in elevators across the Iberian Peninsula.
The investigation involves experts from the National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE) and the Spanish intelligence agency CNI. They are collecting information from the national grid operator and private energy companies, including through on-site visits.
Spain’s National Court has classified the investigation materials.
