On Monday afternoon, nearly two-thirds of Spain suddenly lost power in just five seconds, leaving millions without electricity, phone service, or internet. The blackout, which affected much of the Iberian Peninsula and parts of Southern France, paralyzed daily life. 

The outage resulted in the suspension of trains and flight cancellations. The public service was also disrupted. The residents also of had to face the brunt of the outage and many were stranded on trains, and major events like the Madrid Open tennis matches were temporarily paused. As the outage continued, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez addressed the nation six hours later, acknowledging that authorities had not yet determined the cause of the disruption. In the absence of digital communication, many people resorted to old-fashioned means of staying informed, gathering around transistor radios and meeting in public spaces. With cashless payments halted, some were forced to rely on cash, though many stores were closed.

Throughout Madrid, chaos ensued. High-end shops in the Serrano shopping district quickly secured their merchandise, while citizens struggled to navigate the streets. Police managed traffic, and crowds formed at bus stops as commuters sought ways to get home. The lack of clear information led to widespread speculation, with some even suggesting a cyberattack as the cause.  Madrid’s metro stations remained closed until evening, and many businesses were forced to shut their doors due to the lack of electricity. While emergency generators kept essential services running, including at hotels, the situation highlighted the vulnerability of modern cities when their digital infrastructure fails. 

Power was gradually restored, with Endesa SA reporting that one-third of its customers had regained electricity at night by 10. The blackout served as a stark reminder of Europe's reliance on digital technology and the challenges faced by governments in managing crises of this scale.