Europe blackout - Power supply gradually restored to residents

In Portugal, electricity has been restored for 750,000 residents.

The national energy network operator REN reported that two substations supplying power to the capital, Lisbon, have been brought back online.

"All substations in the wider Porto area are also operational and consumers in the area should expect their situation to normalize shortly,” REN said.

In Spain, Environment Minister Sara Aagesen announced that more than 35% of the necessary electricity capacity has been restored, along with 51% of substations.

Spanish grid operator REE said that power is now available in parts of the following regions:

• Catalonia

• Aragon

• Basque Country

• Galicia

• La Rioja

• Asturias

• Navarre

• Castile and León

• Extremadura

• Andalusia

Meanwhile, in the Portuguese city of Odivelas, in the Colinas do Cruzeiro area, residents celebrated the return of electricity with applause.

Depois de um dia marcado por falhas de eletricidade em várias zonas do país, a energia está a regressar aos poucos e foi recebida com aplausos. Em Odivelas, nas Colinas do Cruzeiro, vizinhos juntaram-se às janelas para celebrar o regresso da luz.#eletricidade #energia pic.twitter.com/tFGwB4m1LB

— CNN Portugal (@cnnportugal) April 28, 2025

Blackout hits Western Europe

On Monday, April 28, around noon, power outages struck Portugal, Spain, Andorra, and parts of France.

The blackout disrupted rail services, metro systems, electric public transport, traffic lights, and caused interruptions at supermarkets and other facilities.

The incident also impacted operations at all Spanish nuclear power plants. Emergency power systems were activated at the sites, and authorities confirmed there was no nuclear threat.

Spain has declared a state of emergency in response.

More details on the blackout in Europe are in RBC-Ukraine’s coverage.