Crisis management
Blackout: but the Spanish show goes on
On 28 April, Spain experienced a complete blackout. Theo Reilly reports on how one event survived and managed the situation and how regionally based logistics experts at Europalco also reacted to keep one of their shows on the road
n 28 April, the lights went
O out in Spain as the country plunged into its worst blackout in decades. Parts of neighbouring Portgual were also affected. The cybersecurity event Cyber Intelligence Europe show was scheduled to start the following day. I spoke to organiser Martyn Hill to find out what it was like working through one of the biggest blackouts in European history. anything like it,” said Jorge Fabra, former president of Red Eléctrica, operator of Spain’ s national grid.
Event attendees landed in Madrid and were queueing five hours for a taxi, with no phone signal and no word from the organisers.
Hill is co-founder of Intelligence-Sec, organisers of Cyber Intelligence Europe. The event focuses on cybersecurity strategies across Europe, convening government officials, military personnel and industry experts.
Left: Pedestrians and vehicles having to avoid each other as traffic lights were not working the event hotel in Madrid before the power outage hit at 12.30pm. Participants informed me that the queue for a taxi was over five hours long. Only cash payments were accepted.
EW – How did the blackout impact the event? Could you give us a brief timeline, up until the issue was resolved? MH – Here’ s the timeline. 11:30 – I arrive in Madrid without issue 12:20 – I check into the event hotel 12:30 – Power outage hits Madrid 13:00 – I go to the hotel reception where there’ s a huge queue. Staff inform everyone that power will be back soon. 13:15 – I speak with the hotel event coordinator, who informs me that I cannot access the meeting rooms as the key cards won’ t work. They advise me to take a stroll into Madrid and come back later – which I do. 17:00 – I arrive back at the hotel and see some of the participants in the hotel bar. 17:30 – I speak with the hotel event team to find a solution if we have no power. 21:00 – Hotel staff inform guests that they cannot provide wake up calls as the phone system is still down. They advise guests to sleep with curtains open. 22:30 – I wake up as all my bedroom lights came on and power is back up and running.
Lights out as the grid fails When the grid failed, Spain lost 60 % of its power. Traffic lights went out, elevators stopped mid-journey and airports fell into chaos.“ In my more than 40 years, I have never seen
EW – Was Cyber Intelligence Europe 2025 affected by the power outages on 28-29 April? MH – Yes. Many of our participants arrived in Madrid on 28 April. Some of them, myself included, had arrived at
Right: 5-hour taxi queue at Madrid International
Airport
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