Spain has declared a state of emergency following a widespread power outage that struck the entire Iberian Peninsula on April 28, paralyzing public infrastructure and prompting the government to activate extraordinary security measures. The blackout, which occurred around midday, affected not only mainland Spain and Portugal but also briefly impacted parts of southern France.

Millions of people across the region were left without electricity, with reports of halted public transportation, grounded flights, disrupted communications, and water supply issues in urban areas. Although power was gradually restored in some parts of Spain and Portugal by the evening, the full extent of the outage’s damage remains unclear. Authorities are still investigating the cause, and no definitive explanation has yet been confirmed.

In a televised national address, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the implementation of a Level 3 National Emergency Plan – the highest tier under Spain’s emergency management framework. This level grants the central government sweeping powers, including the deployment of the military and assumption of direct control over regional operations if necessary.

Sanchez stated that the Ministry of the Interior had taken charge of coordinating the emergency response in Madrid, Andalusia, and Extremadura, in collaboration with regional authorities. “We are aware of the impact this [power outage] is having,” Sanchez said, offering reassurances that the government was prepared to extend emergency measures to any region that requested it.

Importantly, the prime minister emphasized that there was no evidence of a security threat or sabotage, urging the public to remain calm and avoid spreading misinformation. “There is no security problem,” Sanchez said. “But we have........

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