Today, April 28, 2025, Lisbon and much of mainland Portugal experienced a major power outage that disrupted daily life and essential services.
What Happened?
Around 11:30 AM local time, a widespread blackout affected large parts of Portugal and Spain. Public transportation services stopped, traffic became chaotic, and even airports faced delays. Utility companies are working to fully restore power, and investigations are ongoing to determine the cause.
Impact on Transportation
- Metro and Trains: Lisbon’s metro and train systems came to a complete halt, leaving many commuters stranded.
- Traffic Signals: Traffic lights across the city stopped working, leading to major congestion and traffic jams.
- Airports: Lisbon Airport operated on backup generators, but several flights were delayed or rescheduled.
Retail and Services
- Supermarkets: Many supermarkets closed temporarily due to the power failure. Some larger chains continued operating partially using backup generators, but fresh food and refrigerated items were heavily impacted.
- Restaurants: Numerous restaurants had to close or limit their services, as they could not prepare food or operate payment systems without electricity.
Communication and Utilities
- Telecommunications: Mobile networks and internet services were unstable across Lisbon and surrounding areas.
- Hospitals: Hospitals relied on emergency generators to continue critical operations. Some non-urgent medical appointments and procedures were postponed.
Ongoing Investigations
Authorities are investigating the cause of the blackout. So far, they have not ruled out technical failures or potential cyberattacks, but no official conclusion has been announced yet.
Community Response
Despite the sudden disruption, Lisbon’s residents responded with patience and resilience. Many gathered in public spaces, helped direct traffic manually, and showed a strong community spirit during the difficult hours.
Thank you.