On April 28, 2025, a widespread power outage plunged Spain, Portugal, and parts of southern France into chaos, disrupting daily life for millions. The blackout, which began around 12:30 p.m. local time, halted public transportation, knocked out mobile networks, and suspended major events, including the Madrid Open tennis tournament.

In Madrid, the outage brought metro services to a standstill, disabled traffic lights, and left residents without mobile connectivity. Commuters were stranded, and emergency services were stretched thin as they responded to numerous incidents across the city. The blackout also affected Barcelona and Lisbon, where similar scenes of disruption unfolded.

At the Madrid Open, matches were abruptly suspended as electronic systems failed. Players, including Grigor Dimitrov and Jacob Fearnley, were forced off the court mid-match. Spectators were left in the dark, both literally and figuratively, as scoreboards and lighting systems ceased to function. Organizers cited safety concerns in their decision to halt play. 

Air travel was also impacted. Madrid's Barajas Airport experienced delays due to the outage, with some flights postponed and passengers facing long waits. Airport authorities worked to restore operations, but the disruption added to the day's challenges. 

The cause of the blackout remains under investigation. Spain's grid operator, Red Eléctrica, estimated that restoring full power could take six to ten hours. Portuguese officials suggested the issue originated in Spain's electricity distribution network, while others pointed to a broader problem within the European power grid. A fire in southwest France damaging a high-voltage line was also identified as a potential cause, though French authorities have not confirmed this link.

As evening approached, efforts to restore power continued across the affected regions. Residents were advised to limit travel and conserve energy where possible. The incident has highlighted vulnerabilities in the interconnected European power infrastructure and raised questions about preparedness for such large-scale disruptions.