Spanish Army Deployed in Madrid as City Faces Chaos Amid Widespread Power Outage
Madrid, April 28, 2025 – The Mayor of Madrid has called in the Spanish army to restore order as the capital spirals into chaos following a massive power outage that has gripped Spain and Portugal. The blackout, which began earlier today, has paralyzed public transportation, caused severe traffic jams, and delayed flights across the region, plunging the city into disarray.
Social media reports and eyewitness accounts describe scenes of disorder in Madrid, with hundreds of residents and workers stranded on the streets outside darkened office buildings. A heavy police presence has been noted around key infrastructure, with officers directing traffic and patrolling central areas to maintain calm. However, the situation has escalated to the point where military intervention was deemed necessary, raising concerns about the stability of the Spanish capital.
The power outage, which also affected parts of Portugal and briefly impacted southern France, has disrupted daily life on a massive scale. At the Madrid Open tennis tournament, play was suspended mid-match, leaving players like Grigor Dimitrov and Jacob Fearnley unable to continue as scoreboards and cameras lost power. Local businesses, including restaurants, have resorted to using phone flashlights to operate in the dark.
Red Electrica, Spain’s national grid operator, has stated that it is working with regional energy companies to restore power, while Portuguese utility REN has activated a phased restoration plan. The European Commission is coordinating with Spanish and Portuguese authorities, as well as the European Network of Transmission System Operators (ENTSO-E), to determine the cause of the outage. A crisis committee has been established in Spain to manage the unfolding situation, according to government sources.
Public reaction on social media has been swift and critical, with many linking the blackout to broader systemic issues. Some users have pointed to Spain’s ambitious Net Zero policies, questioning the reliability of the country’s energy transition to 100% renewable sources. Others have raised concerns about public safety, with one user noting the vulnerability of citizens being "unarmed during a blackout." Conspiracy theories have also emerged, with some alleging that the blackout is a deliberate "blueprint for obedience" rather than an accident.
Adding to the confusion, questions have been raised about the military personnel deployed in Madrid. While the Mayor called for the Spanish army, images circulating online appear to show soldiers in uniforms labeled "US Army," prompting speculation and accusations of misinformation. Local resident Angel (
@apachezaragoza
) took to X to question the authenticity of the images, asking, "WTF is this? Is this picture showing Spanish military??"The deployment of the military in Madrid marks a significant escalation in the response to the crisis. According to the Spanish Constitution of 1978, the armed forces are tasked with guaranteeing the sovereignty and independence of Spain, as well as defending its territorial integrity and constitutional order. Historically, Madrid has been a focal point for military involvement, most notably during the Siege of Madrid (1936–1939) in the Spanish Civil War, when the city endured a prolonged conflict between Republican and Nationalist forces.
As the situation develops, the Spanish and Portuguese governments are meeting to address the outage and its cascading effects. Authorities have yet to provide a timeline for when power will be fully restored, leaving residents of Madrid and beyond grappling with uncertainty. The coming hours will be critical in determining whether the military’s presence can stabilize the capital—or if the city’s descent into chaos will deepen.
