Massive power outage in Spain and Portugal leaves thousands stranded and millions without light

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — An unprecedented blackout brought much of Spain and Portugal to a standstill Monday, stranding thousands of train passengers and leaving millions of people without phone and internet coverage and access to cash from ATMs across the Iberian Peninsula.

The sudden crash of the power grid also left authorities searching for its cause. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez addressed the nation and said that almost 11 hours after the nation ground to a halt, government experts were still trying to determine what happened.

“We have never had a complete collapse of the system,” Sánchez said, before detailing that at 12:33 p.m. on Monday Spain's power grid lost 15 gigawatts, the equivalent of 60% of its national demand, in a matter of five seconds.

Spanish power distributor Red Eléctrica’s head of operations Eduardo Prieto said the event was “exceptional and extraordinary.”

Spain had recovered more than 92% of its power by 5 a.m. on Tuesday, according to Red Eléctrica, and the prime minister pledged that the entire country of 48 million would have lights back on by the end of the day.

It was the second serious European power outage in less than six weeks after a March 20 fire shut down Heathrow Airport in the U.K., and it came as authorities across Europe gird against sabotage backed by Russia.

The Portuguese National Cybersecurity Center in a statement said there was no sign the outage was due to a cyber attack. Teresa Ribera, European Commission executive vice president in charge of promoting clean energy, indicated the same to journalists in Brussels and called the power outage “one of the most serious episodes recorded in Europe in recent times.”

“We are analyzing all the potential causes without discarding any hypothesis,” Sánchez said.

The outage began at midday. Offices closed and traffic was snarled in Madrid and Lisbon, while some civilians in Barcelona directed traffic. Train services in both countries stopped.

Emergency services and rail workers in Spain had to help evacuate some 35,000 people from over 100 trains that stopped on the tracks when the electricity was cut. By 11 p.m. passengers from 11 trains still needed evacuating, Sánchez said.

In Madrid, hundreds of people at a bus stop that takes travelers to the airport tried to hitchhike as buses didn’t come by or arrived full of passengers. Many held improvised signs and tried to convince drivers to take them. Some drivers were helping some of them.

“I’ve been here for almost three hours, trying to get someone to take me to the airport because my family arrived today and I can’t talk to them," Jessica Fernández told The Associated Press. “This is terrifying.”

The subway systems shut down.

“I don’t know how I am going to get home,” Barcelona resident Ivette Corona said as she watched a large group of people fail to get on a bus that briefly stopped to squeeze in a couple of passengers.

Hospitals and other emergency services switched to generators and gas stations stopped working. It wasn't possible to make calls on most mobile phone networks, though some apps were sporadically working. People searched for battery-powered radios.

It is rare to have such a widespread outage across the Iberian Peninsula, with a combined population of about 60 million people. Spain’s Canary Islands, Balearic Islands and the territories of Ceuta and Melilla, located across the Mediterranean in Africa, were not affected.

After an extraordinary meeting of the National Security Council, Sánchez said the army would distribute generators and other material to the hardest-hit areas on Tuesday.

The Portuguese Cabinet convened an emergency meeting at the prime minister’s residence. Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said he had spoken several times to Sánchez and expected power to be restored by the end of the day.

Portugal’s government said the outage appeared to stem from problems outside the country, an official told national news agency Lusa.

Electricity was being pulled from Morocco and France to restore power to southern and northern Spain, Spain's prime minister said, thanking their governments. Spain was also increasing the production from hydroelectric and combined cycle thermal power plants.

A graph on Spain’s electricity network website showing demand across the country indicated a steep drop around 12:15 p.m. from 27,500 megawatts to near 15,000 megawatts.

Spanish airports were operating on backup electrical systems and some flights were delayed, according to Aena, which runs 56 airports in Spain including Madrid and Barcelona.

In Lisbon, terminals closed and tourists sat outside waiting for news about flights.

“We haven’t seen any plane arriving or departing in the 50 minutes we’ve been waiting here,” Dutch tourist Marc Brandsma said.

The Spanish Parliament in Madrid closed. Play at the Madrid Open tennis tournament was suspended.

Some took advantage of the lack of connectivity to enjoy the sunshine on restaurant terraces, parks and beaches. Barcelona’s streets filled with throngs of people milling in front of darkened stores and exchanging information.

“We are lucky. Some people got trapped in the metro. And there is a positive side: We are talking more with each other,” said Monste Cortés in Barcelona.

She said dinner would be sliced bread and cold cuts.

As hours passed, so did the concern of those unable to reach loved ones. “I can’t even call my boss because nothing works," said Helen Osorio, a Barcelona shop clerk.

In Terrassa, an industrial town 50 kilometers (30 miles) from Barcelona, stores selling generators were out of stock.

Portugal’s National Authority for Emergencies and Civil Protection said backup power systems were operating.

In Portugal, a country of some 10.6 million people, police placed more officers on duty to cope with increased requests for help, including from people trapped in elevators.

Several Lisbon subway cars were evacuated, reports said. Courts stopped work and ATMs and electronic payment systems were affected.

Hatton reported from Lisbon, Portugal. Associated Press writers Tales Azzoni in Madrid and Emma Burrows in London contributed.

A car drives down an unlit street in Lisbon, during a nationwide power outage, Monday night, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Stars can be seen in the sky above Lisbon, where most buildings had no lights during a nationwide power outage, Monday night, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

A young couple sits on the terrace of a closed bar at a viewpoint overlooking Lisbon during a nationwide power outage, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

A car drives down an unlit street in Lisbon, during a nationwide power outage, Monday night, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Passengers queue at Madrid airport, during a major power outage, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Vendors use their phone light to select and save some food, during a major power outage in Barcelona, Spain, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

A vendor sit at her shop, during a major power outage in Barcelona, Spain, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Passengers wait outside Atocha train station during a nationwide power outage in Madrid, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Passengers wait at a train station during a nationwide power outage in Pamplona, northern Spain, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)

A security guard speaks with a woman outside a temporarily closed metro station during a nationwide power outage in Madrid, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

People walk outside Atocha train station during a nationwide power outage in Madrid, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Spectators roam inside the Madrid Open tennis tournament venue during a general blackout in Madrid, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Passengers wait outside Atocha train station during a nationwide power outage in Madrid, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

A medical staffer relocates a patient during a nationwide power outage in Pamplona, northern Spain, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)

Passengers wait at a bus terminal during a nationwide power outage in Pamplona, northern Spain, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)

Passengers wait outside Atocha train station during a nationwide power outage in Madrid, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Passengers roam outside Atocha train station during a nationwide power outage in Madrid, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

People walk inside a hospital during a nationwide power outage in Pamplona, northern Spain, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)

People check their mobile phones as they stand outside a closed subway station following a power outage in Lisbon, Portugal, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Motorists drive past traffic lights that stopped working following a power outage in downtown Lisbon, Portugal, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

The Madrid Open tennis tournament venue is empty during a general blackout in Madrid, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

The Madrid Open tennis tournament venue is empty during a general blackout in Madrid, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Spectators walk out of the Madrid Open tennis tournament venue during a general blackout in Madrid, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Spectators roam inside the Madrid Open tennis tournament venue during a general blackout in Madrid, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

People fail to board a crowded bus after the subway stopped running following a power outage in Lisbon, Portugal, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

People climb stairs in Lisbon old centre after the escalator stopped working following a power outage, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Traffic lights stopped working following a power outage in downtown Lisbon, Portugal, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Spectators roam inside the Madrid Open tennis tournament venue during a general blackout in Madrid, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

People try to board a crowded bus after the subway stopped running following a power outage in Lisbon, Portugal, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

People try to board a crowded bus after the subway stopped running following a power outage in Lisbon, Portugal, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

HANOI, Vietnam--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 13, 2026--

FPT, through its global IT services subsidiary FPT Software, has achieved ISO/IEC 42001:2023, the first global standard for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Management Systems. With this milestone, FPT became the first company in Vietnam and the second in Southeast Asia to earn this recognition, underscoring its commitment to responsible AI development and deployment with consideration for fairness and impartiality, privacy and security, safety, quality and robustness, governance, transparency and explainability.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260112494011/en/

The certification was issued by the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company SGS and qualified by ANAB (ANSI National Accreditation Board) - a leading U.S. accreditation body with global recognition. ISO/IEC 42001 specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving AI management systems, allowing organizations to effectively manage risks and opportunities associated with AI, balancing innovation with compliance.

Achieving ISO/IEC 42001:2023 reflects FPT’s capability in AI governance, encompassing ethics, risk management, transparency, compliance, and ensuring alignment with both business goals and societal values. It also strengthens FPT’s position as a trusted technology partner for global organizations, especially those in highly regulated industries such as banking and financial services, automotive, healthcare, energy, and the public sector. The milestone further solidifies FPT’s position as an AI-first company, strengthening its foundation for scaling AI responsibly while helping clients navigate evolving regulatory, ethical, and operational challenges associated with AI adoption.

“As an AI-first company, we pledge to prioritize safety, ethics and accountability at every stage of our AI lifecycle. By continuously governing AI development and implementation processes, we provide our clients and partners with the assurance that our solutions are built with responsibility, transparency and adhere to international excellence,” said Dao Duy Cuong, FPT Software EVP and Chief Digital & Technology Officer, FPT Corporation.

FPT actively promotes responsible AI development as a founding member of the AI Alliance led by IBM and Meta, and the Vietnam Ethical AI Committee. The company is committed to embedding rigorous AI governance across its global operations and solution portfolio, including its flagship AI platform FleziPT, which boosts productivity by 30%, accelerates development by 60% and reduces 50% in rework. The company also maintains co-creation partnerships with global leaders like AWS, Microsoft, SAP, and NVIDIA to deliver tailored solutions for industry-specific challenges. Supporting these efforts is a workforce of over 25,000 AI-augmented, globally certified engineers, and world-class infrastructure including cutting-edge AI Factories in Vietnam and Japan, which have been ranked among the world’s Top 40 fastest supercomputers. Expanding its AI footprint, FPT is developing a new Research Center in Gia Lai Province, Vietnam, which is expected to become a critical component of its global AI development network, supporting high-quality talent cultivation for both the local community and the nation.

About FPT

FPT Corporation (FPT) is a globally leading technology and IT services provider headquartered in Vietnam, operating in three core sectors: Technology, Telecommunications, and Education. Over more than three decades, FPT has consistently delivered impactful solutions to millions of individuals and tens of thousands of organizations worldwide. As an AI-first company, FPT is committed to elevating Vietnam’s position on the global tech map and delivering world-class AI-enabled solutions for global enterprises. FPT focuses on three critical transformations: Digital Transformation, Intelligence Transformation, and Green Transformation. In 2024, FPT reported a total revenue of USD 2.47 billion and a workforce of over 54,000 employees across its core businesses. For more information about FPT's global IT services, please visit https://fptsoftware.com.

FPT received ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification during the certification award ceremony in Hanoi, Vietnam