A day of great tension swept through Spain, Portugal, and part of France: a massive blackout paralyzed transport, supermarkets, hospitals, and critical infrastructures, raising the possibility of a cyberattack.

Authorities are working to restore power and ensure essential services, as the situation rapidly evolves amid traffic jams, evacuations, and multi-level emergency plans being activated. The Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) issued an urgent appeal to the public, urging people not to drive unless absolutely necessary.

With all traffic lights down and traffic heavily disrupted, authorities stressed the importance of minimizing private vehicle use to avoid further complications and ensure access for emergency vehicles. The blackout also hit Portugal hard, causing major disruptions at Lisbon Airport, with thousands of passengers stranded and numerous flights delayed or canceled. The national railway network also suffered major disruptions, halting key connections from north to south. Critical situations were also reported at Madrid Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat airports, where some flights were suspended or canceled.

Southern France was not spared either, with major disruptions in the Occitanie region, especially around Perpignan, known as French Catalonia. Spanish authorities have launched official investigations to determine whether the blackout was caused by a cyberattack. The National Cryptologic Center (CCN), part of the intelligence services, along with the National Institute for Cybersecurity (Incibe), is analyzing the situation to assess if the electric system was hit by a cyber offensive. These agencies, responsible for protecting critical infrastructures, had already reported an increase in threats in recent months.

In recent months, Spain has become one of the European countries most affected by cyberattacks, partly due to its geopolitical position related to conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Authorities believe it is possible that the power outage is connected to these international dynamics. The situation remains under close surveillance by security agencies and strategic infrastructure protection officials.

Some municipalities recorded significant power outages, impacting transportation and essential services, further worsening the effects of this unusual energy emergency.