Huge power blackouts across Spain and Portugal

Newshour

BBC

News, Daily News

4.4 • 984 Ratings

🗓️ 28 April 2025

⏱️ 47 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Large parts of the Southern European countries hit by power outages as trains, restaurants, and even traffic lights are impacted. The Madrid metro has been evacuated and long queues have formed at cash points as card payments aren’t working. The source of the power cuts is currently unknown.

Also in the programme: The International Court of Justice has begun five days of hearings to examine Israel's legal obligations to provide aid to Gaza. Aid has been blocked from reaching Gaza since March. International agencies are warning of severe food shortages. And; the Canadian election takes place today as the Liberals, led by current Prime Minister Mark Carney, are expected to win. We explain the politics behind it all.

(Photo: View of a bar after a blackout hit Spain in the city of Toledo, central Spain, 28 April 2025. A massive blackout has hit large parts of Spain and spread to neighbouring Portugal and France, disrupting transport systems, internet connections and daily life, according to authorities. Photo by ISMAEL HERRERO/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello and welcome to the programme. This is Newshour, live from the BBC World Service. We're coming to you from London. My name's Paul Henley, and we're getting reports of a massive power outage on the Iberian Peninsula. It's affecting Spain, Portugal and parts of southern France. The cause of the power cut isn't yet clear.
0:23.6	Massive congestion has been reported in the Spanish capital, Madrid,
0:27.6	where traffic lights suddenly stopped working.
0:31.7	I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister,
0:37.3	after the party selects its next leader.
0:40.4	Apologies, we'll bring you that story later.
0:43.1	We're going to report from Spain now,
0:45.1	and we hope to talk to the BBC's Guy Hedgeco.
0:48.3	Guy, tell us where you are,
0:49.9	and what's the situation where you are
0:52.0	regarding this huge power outage?
0:57.7	No, the power outage is so severe that we've lost the line to Guy Hedgeco.
1:01.6	You're listening to the BBC World Service. We hope to return to that story as soon as we can.
1:06.7	For now, let's talk about the Canadian elections, Because Canadians are voting today to elect a new government.
1:12.8	It's not a normal campaign.
1:14.3	It's been largely defined by President Trump's talk of tariffs
1:17.9	and turning Canada into America's 51st state.
1:22.7	The elections are happening because the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau,
1:25.9	unpopular and embroiled in internal conflict,
1:29.2	decided to go at the start of this year.
1:32.3	I intend to resign as party leader, as Prime Minister, after the party selects its next leader
1:40.5	through a robust, nationwide, competitive process.
	...

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