Blackout rekindles community spirit across Southern Europe
France, Spain, and Portugal were suddenly plunged into darkness. The blackout that affected all three countries surprised residents and paralysed daily life. However, instead of causing chaos and frustration, the power outage brought something completely different to some people: warmth, community, and nostalgia.
On Monday, 28 April, a major power outage occurred, affecting mainland Spain as well as parts of Portugal and France. The Spanish electricity system operator, Red Eléctrica, reported that the cause of the outage is unknown, but it is the most serious of its kind in the country's history.
Experts have suggested the possibility of excess capacity in electricity generation, which could have led to an overload of the system.
The blackout that brought people together
Despite the power being out, life went on. The internet was flooded with videos documenting extraordinary scenes. "It's like going back to the 90s!" wrote internet users. In videos, published mainly on TikTok, people are seen sitting on lawns, playing cards, reading books, and simply talking to each other. Without phones, without the internet. Together again.
Streets, parks, and beaches were filled with walkers. Children were running with balls, young people took to the fields, and outdoor gyms were bustling. In several locations, impromptu dance lessons were organised – everyone danced, from the youngest to the seniors. Without music from speakers. Just the rhythm of clapping hands was enough.
Although the outage was sudden and potentially worrying, people's reactions turned out to be surprisingly positive. In the comments under the videos, words such as "emotion", "delight", and "nostalgia" were repeated. For many, it was a reminder of what it's really like to be together – without filters, notifications, and screen-swiping.
While the restoration of power brought relief, some regretted that this "offline" moment didn't last longer.
Social and political reactions to the blackout
Spain's Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, convened a meeting of the National Security Council to discuss the situation. Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, emphasised that there is no evidence of a cyberattack as the cause of the outage. However, on social media, conspiracy theories emerged suggesting various scenarios, including the impact of the Green Deal on energy stability.
Carlos Cagigal, an energy expert, warns that similar outages could occur more frequently if appropriate measures are not taken. The development of renewable energy sources must be closely linked with energy storage systems that allow for a quick reaction to unforeseen events.
