Massive power outage in Spain and Portugal
Why crisis communication is now more important than ever
On 28 April 2025, there was a massive power outage that paralysed large parts of Spain and Portugal.
Millions of people were left without power, and railway stations, airports and communication systems were out of action.
Even though hospitals were secured by emergency power generators, this event showed once again that in crisis situations, preparation and fast communication are crucial for safety and the ability to act.
▶︎ Read more: Possible causes of a blackout
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What happened?
From around 12 noon, the power supply collapsed in large parts of Spain and Portugal. All infrastructures on the mainland were affected, including rail transport, airports, traffic light systems and large parts of the retail trade. Digital communication channels were also affected.
The cause is still unclear, but a cyber attack has not been ruled out, according to investigations by the Spanish INCIBE (Instituto Nacional de Ciberseguridad) and the Portuguese authorities.
The sequence of events at a glance:
- Trains and metros came to an abrupt halt. Travellers were stranded at stations and on trains.
- Traffic lights failed, leading to traffic chaos in many cities.
- Airports had to cancel or postpone flights as control systems and check-in facilities were affected.
- Supermarkets and retailers closed their doors at short notice.
- ATMs were no longer functional.
- Mobile phone networks initially remained stable, but began to experience initial outages due to overload.
▶︎ Read more: How safeREACH works
Impact on the economy and society
- Production facilities had to be shut down, resulting in considerable economic damage.
- Digital services and platforms were no longer available in many regions.
- Retail and supply chains came to a standstill.
- There was a noticeable increase in uncertainty among the population, as reliable information was only available to a limited extent.
A lack of communication in the first few hours exacerbated the general uncertainty and demonstrated the enormous importance of effective crisis communication.
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Why rapid alerting is crucial
In the first few hours of a power outage, the mobile phone network usually remains stable - for two to four hours, depending on the infrastructure. This time window is crucial for initiating emergency measures, reaching employees and activating crisis teams.
Digital alerting systems such as safeREACH help to make the most of this critical phase:
By utilising the mobile phone network that is still up, safeREACH enables fast and structured alerting - via app, text message, email or voice call. This means that important instructions and information can be reliably disseminated even in such tense situations.
▶︎ Read more: How alerting software like safeREACH saves valuable time
Lessons for the future
Large-scale power outages are no longer a theoretical threat. Organisations must take a comprehensive approach to crisis preparedness:
- Early alerting and rapid crisis response are essential.
- Redundant communication channels ensure the ability to act even under difficult conditions.
- Regular crisis exercises strengthen the resilience of authorities, companies and organisations.
- Reliable alerting and information systems such as safeREACH make it possible to optimise the use of valuable time windows.
Those who are prepared can remain capable of acting even in extreme situations - and thus create security and trust.
▶︎ Read more: The biggest challenges for companies in crisis situations
1.666 alarms per second
safeREACH as your powerful emergency notification system with up to 100.000 alarms per minute. Successfully used by multinational corporations, medium-sized companies and public authorities. ISO-certified server infrastructure.