UPDATE - No evidence of cyberattack linked to power outages in Spain, Portugal, says EU Council chief

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT BY EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - There is currently no evidence of a cyberattack in connection with the widespread power outages in Spain and Portugal, the European Council president said on Monday.

Antonio Costa said he spoke on the phone with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro about today's ongoing blackout in Spain and Portugal.

"Grid operators in both countries are working on finding the cause, and on restoring the electricity supply," he wrote on X.

He clarified that "at this point, there are no indications of any cyber attack."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also spoke with Sanchez, reaffirming the commission's support in monitoring the situation with national and European authorities and the Electricity Coordination Group.

"We will coordinate efforts and share information to help restore the electricity system, and agreed to stay in close contact," she wrote on X.

Separately, Red Electrica, a Spanish energy provider, said they expect the blackout to last for six to 10 hours.

The electricity went out across Portugal, Spain, and Andorra – a microstate between Spain and France – around midday Monday, also affecting parts of France.

Authorities are investigating the causes of the outage. Spain's National Institute for Cybersecurity is also studying whether a cyberattack could be responsible.

The Spanish government has called an emergency meeting with Red Electrica, which will be attended by the Spanish premier and several Cabinet ministers.

The meeting will discuss coordinating actions to address the blackout.