International

FCDO warns British tourists of travel disruption risks after rare power outages in Portugal and Spain

Saturday, 3 May 2025 5:13AM UTC

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has issued updated travel advice for British holidaymakers visiting Portugal following significant power outages linked to a rare atmospheric phenomenon, as economic impacts and service interruptions continue to ripple across the region.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued a cautionary statement for millions of British tourists travelling to Portugal this summer, following significant power outages that occurred earlier this week. These outages, which also affected Andorra and mainland Spain, prompted the FCDO to update its guidance, advising holidaymakers to monitor any potential travel disruptions.

The power interruptions primarily occurred on Monday, 28 April, and have largely been resolved, but residual disruptions are still anticipated. The FCDO advised travellers to check with their tour operators or airlines for the latest information and to follow local authorities’ advice while staying informed through local updates.

The outages were reportedly caused by a “rare atmospheric phenomenon," according to the Portuguese grid operator REN. This incident was attributed to extreme temperature fluctuations across Spain, which led to “anomalous oscillations” in high-voltage power lines. The phenomenon, identified as “induced atmospheric vibration,” resulted in synchronisation failures within the interconnected European electrical systems, creating cascading disturbances.

However, Spain's national meteorological office, Aemet, released a statement early on Tuesday that appeared to contradict REN's assessment. Aemet clarified that no unusual weather phenomena had been detected on the day of the outages and reported stable conditions across its network of meteorological stations.

The economic ramifications of the power cut have been significant, with Spain’s Asociación de Trabajadores Autónomos estimating potential losses for self-employed individuals could reach up to €1.3 billion. The group reported ongoing connectivity and transport challenges, particularly affecting the hospitality and retail sectors. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed gratitude towards citizens for their responsibility and civic spirit during the crisis, acknowledging the difficulties faced.

Service disruptions are expected to gradually alleviate over the coming days, as efforts to restore normalcy progress.

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.financialexpress.com/world-news/rare-atmospheric-phenomenon-behind-massive-power-outage-in-spain-portugal-and-parts-of-france-heres-everything-you-should-know/3825639/ - This article discusses the rare atmospheric phenomenon that led to the massive power outage in Spain, Portugal, and parts of France on April 28, 2025, corroborating the claim about the cause of the outages.
https://www.modernpowersystems.com/news/spain-and-portugal-suffer-major-blackout/ - This source provides details on the widespread impact of the power outage, including disruptions to transportation, traffic signals, and essential services, supporting the information about the effects of the blackout.
https://www.wbng.com/2025/04/28/major-power-outage-spain-portugal-knocks-out-subway-networks-traffic-lights-atms/ - This article reports on the significant disruptions caused by the power outage, including the shutdown of subway systems, traffic lights, and ATMs, aligning with the described consequences of the blackout.
https://www.wuot.org/2025-04-28/a-major-power-outage-is-reported-in-spain-and-portugal-disabling-their-capitals - This source details the widespread impact of the power outage, including the shutdown of subway systems, traffic lights, and ATMs, corroborating the described effects of the blackout.
https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2023/05/09/720115.htm - This article discusses the heatwave in Spain and Portugal in April 2023, providing context for the extreme temperature fluctuations that may have contributed to the power outages.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Iberian_Peninsula_blackout - This Wikipedia page provides a comprehensive overview of the 2025 Iberian Peninsula blackout, including details on the cause, effects, and restoration efforts, supporting the information presented in the article.
https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiAFBVV95cUxQbkRMdEJHeVBhQjFQYmJ1ZlBXYU5PQzJYRkpvLUNORVp5TzBfRjNKcE5aMklKeXZia290eDZYU2tWODR6TjFxQm9vaXlCYXdjVWJuTWVKbzFWaDBpd3BjVjFSbmY5U24yVzZkYWYzV0tPVkRBYnlCeEVvTll2NVBoT3NodlRvVTk30gGOAUFVX3lxTFAyTWp6UlljTjZvcFF3MVlnWkNrc2tGd2NLMmF1YzZjNzJmTlZ6NTZRb2J2MnZobV9vRlNvZlBCVE1OUzB2VEVIMWRIWTZKVkpuOGkyM2dhYmRxRVJkWkFPLTdHMW5kLXoxLWd1bEhhWE5NUXJLc19mQ3YwdmxGTkRFQmlzVFFFajBFdGhBVXc?oc=5&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en - Please view link - unable to able to access data

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative references events from late April (Monday, 28 April) and recent FCDO updates. No obvious recycling of older content detected, though specific press release status cannot be confirmed without direct URL access.

Quotes check

Score: 7

Notes: Quotes from REN, Aemet, and Pedro Sánchez lack primary source verification (e.g., official statements or press releases). The inclusion of contradictory statements by Aemet and REN suggests original reporting.

Source reliability

Score: 6

Notes: The narrative’s origin via Google News RSS cannot be verifiably linked to a named publisher. Claims cite credible entities like the FCDO and Aemet, but intermediary sourcing introduces uncertainty.

Plausability check

Score: 7

Notes: Power grid disturbances from atmospheric conditions are rare but documented. Conflicting meteorological assessments (REN vs. Aemet) and economic impact figures lack independent verification but align with typical post-outage reporting patterns.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative provides timely, verifiable references to official advisories and credible entities but lacks direct sourcing for quotes and economic claims. Contradictory meteorological assessments and unverified loss estimates warrant caution.

FCDO
Portugal
Spain
Power outage
Travel disruption
Tourism