The causes of the Blackout, which left it without electricity on Monday, have not yet been found.
Red Eléctrica, the company responsible for the operation of the network in Spain, has first ruled out a cyberattack, human error and atmospheric conditions, saying that probably it.
“The Step” has asked, according to experts, a total interruption of electricity in the country.
A radio day with batteries
Robert Pablo, journalist
On Monday, shortly after eight, the electricity fell and the lights went off the radio station while we were in the air. At first we thought that the interruption would not last long and that in any case we would work with the generators.
Our station is one of the largest in Spain and broadcasts across the country, and because there is a difference in time in some areas, various problems have been created that we have learned gradually. We broadcast whatever information we had, what we learned from the international media.
When we realized that it was a general blackout, we were taken aback. We had put the generators ahead, but because the pumps were not working at the gas stations, after about four hours the technicians were forced to get gasoline and oil out of the station’s cars and put fuel in bits to feed the generators.
Many people were in panic because there were many fake news that there were war, that Putin is to blame and other strange things.
Many people were in panic because they were informed by unofficial networks, that Putin is to blame and other strange ones. At some point the government explained at a press conference what had happened. After that many people on the street were gathering around the cars that had the radio open to learn the news. It was a radio day with batteries.
The light began to come from 7pm onwards, with a 3-5 hour difference depending on the area. Many could not move by train or plane and had to stay at stations and airports or find somewhere to sleep.
The central railway station in Atotsa was full of people who had run out there. There was a lot of solidarity, many offered their home to their colleagues. Even the crimes declined, as announced by the interior ministry.
I would spend the night on the streets
Alechandra Sanchez, student
I study dance and live in the student home because I come from a village and the family’s finances do not stand to rent an apartment in the city.
When the power outage took place, I was at school, but when I returned to the fireplace, the principal informed us that because they could not take care of us we had to alert our own to come. .
When I returned to the fireplace, the manager informed us that because they could not take care of us we had to notify our own to come to get us.
Fortunately, I was offered to be hosted by the parents of a friend of mine from a nearby in our own village, who came and came in time, otherwise I would have to spend the night on the streets. From what I learned in the same way, the student homes were evacuated, although those who stay there are minors, but many parents opened their homes to other children that day.
Eventually my mother, who had died of anxiety, got the message I was telling her where I was at three in the morning when communications in our area were restored.
I didn’t know anything about my kids
Rebecca Garcia, teacher
As singer Alejandro Santh used to say, “the light turned out to us” (though not definitively, as in his song). Well, let me tell you what we lived. On Monday we were at school and we were teaching like any other day, when the electricity was suddenly cut. At first we didn’t pay much attention, until I received a message from my husband: “The electricity has been cut throughout Spain.” At that moment an alarm began to hit the boiler room and we were preparing for the school evacuation. However, the principal decided to continue the school program normally.
At first, we still had an internet connection, so I could hear radio from my cellphone and be informed thanks to my husband, who worked on the radio and had generators, as well as from my family in Zaragoza, where they also had no electricity.
But shortly thereafter everything collapsed: neither signal nor data nor news. All we knew was that the power outage also affected Portugal and part of France, but we had no idea what caused it. I managed to get down to the car for 5 minutes to hear the radio bulletin and see that no one knew the cause and that they thought the system would come back in 6 to 10 hours. .
We found the supermarket license and high -speed electric stores to get the world of lenses, a radio with batteries and gas stoves, which they sold out.
For me, the greatest uncertainty was that I didn’t know anything about my children, 9, 11 and 14 years old. I was also concerned about how I would go home without lanterns, Madrid had paralyzed. At the end of the school day, some students left on foot, others took their families and for those who stayed away several teachers offered to get them by car I saw that everyone was well, I sighed with relief.
We went down the street looking for bread and sausages to make sandwiches, because nothing was working. We had to go down six floors many times (good for the legs) and found the supermarket license and high -speed electric stores to get people lenses, batteries and gas radio, which they sold out. However, the atmosphere on the road was unexpectedly good. Cars with radio open and windows lowered, groups of people listening to the news, neighbors helping each other.
Some neighbors we didn’t know went home to see if any of our phones had a signal to call their mother. We didn’t do it. My husband had to go back to the radio, the bastard double shift until 3 in the morning, so I stayed with the little ones to play and dine with buns and sausages in the candle and lenses.
When the electricity returned, applause from the windows were heard. The mobile network was still not working properly, but at least we fell asleep quietly. We were all well and we had lived another family adventure in the midst of chaos.
They were shopping bottles with water and toilet paper
Hassos Alonso, Civil Servant
When the power outage happened on 28.4.2025 I was in my office, on the outskirts of Madrid, where we were asked to leave a little later because we could not work, without even having fully realized what had happened.
As I returned to Madrid, the traffic on the highway did not seem to have been very affected, but as soon as I entered the city I saw that the lanterns were not working and I began to worry. Fortunately, from the outlet of the motorway to my house there are only three lanterns and all drivers were moving with great care, prioritizing each other and pedestrians in an unexpectedly civilized way.
When I got home, I opened the radio with my mother’s batteries and then I started to understand what was going on. I couldn’t cook, so I made a cold meal. I took advantage of the afternoon to read, since I couldn’t do much more. I had a meeting that day at 5pm but I was not able to go, as public transport was not working and I didn’t want to cross Madrid by car without traffic lights. In addition, I assumed that it would have been canceled as others would have the same problem.
I thought how dangerous a city could be completely immersed in darkness, with all security systems and alarms.
After reading, I went out for a walk because I wanted to see how things were in the neighborhood. There was people on the terraces and on the patios of the buildings that drank something, taking advantage of the fact that the drinks were still cold.
– The latter reminded me of the pandemic and it seemed quite funny to me. There were also many walking by constantly controlling their mobile phones, if the signal had returned. I kept walking until it started to night and then I thought about how dangerous a city could be completely immersed in the dark, with all security systems and alarms.
Nevertheless, I was curious to see Madrid and its surroundings completely dark from a nearby park that offers good views of the city. From there I suddenly saw the current returning, the lights gradually light up, the signal on my cellphone was restored.
I took the opportunity to answer messages, including one of my sister asking for our mother. As I went home, I saw that the current had returned to some buildings, including mine. It was about 10 in the evening. The interruption in Madrid was over, although in other areas of the province the current returned 5 or 6 hours later.
‘Train has a delay’
Stefanos Kroustallis, University Professor
The blackout found me at the Albathea City Railway Station, where my family remains, for Madrid. At first we were told that the train was delayed, then that there is a problem with its electric power and we were asked to get out of the waiting room.
Then we saw that the control gates were closed. We still didn’t know exactly what had happened.
Coincidentally, I was approached by two of my students and anxiously told me that they had to take the bus to go to the company they were doing outside of Madrid. , they asked me if I could lend them money to eat something and get tickets.
Fortunately the neighborhood shops made credit to those who knew, so we could buy fruits, bread, canned and water.
I gave them and returned to my account as soon as the electricity was restored. I returned home, everywhere. Bread, radios, batteries, lenses, coffee gazes and cooking disappeared very quickly.
Fortunately, neighborhood shops made credit to those who knew, so we could buy fruits, bread, canned and water. The next day in some regions the schools decided not to take a lesson because there was no certainty that they could go to them all the teaching staff and all the students, but the schools themselves were left open to help what they might need.
Detoxification from social media
Irene del Kura, high school student
The power outage meant that we had no lesson, which excited us. We went out with our friends to enjoy the sun and got out on the streets to enjoy the good weather – the cafes were full and served whatever they could.
In the afternoon, as long as there was light I read, but most of my classmates went to the parks and most generally stayed out with their friends. Some of my friends, and my sister, had to study because the next day they had competitions and many were forced to read candles and lenses. But schools did not open the next day.
We were surprised to realize how much we depend on electricity. With my girlfriends we listed the things we couldn’t do without electricity.
Many of my age were anxious because they seemed impossible to spend one afternoon without the Internet, Tiktok, Instagram, etc., but then, talking to my friends, many told me that they liked the fork detoxification from social media and online games. , since you couldn’t do much without light.
We were also surprised by the realization of how much we depend on electricity. With my girlfriends we listed the things we couldn’t do without electricity. The cards, our mobiles, our computers did not work, we had no light, kitchen to cook, fridge, elevator. Growing up given that there is electricity, it was shocking for us.
