Fact Check: Is Lanzarote affected by power outage?

Is Lanzarote Affected by Power Outage?

Introduction

The claim in question pertains to the status of Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands, in relation to a recent power outage that affected parts of Spain and Portugal. Reports have emerged suggesting that while the mainland experienced significant disruptions, Lanzarote may have been spared from the worst effects of the outage. This article will explore the available information regarding this claim without reaching a definitive conclusion.

What We Know

1. A major power outage occurred on April 28, 2025, affecting millions in Spain and Portugal, leading to widespread chaos and significant disruptions [2][8].
2. Reports indicate that Lanzarote experienced a localized incident where a wind turbine collapsed, causing power outages in certain areas of the island [4]. However, this appears to be a separate event from the larger outage affecting the mainland.
3. According to multiple sources, Lanzarote and other Canary Islands were largely unaffected by the widespread blackout that impacted the Iberian Peninsula [6][7]. The islands' electrical systems are reportedly independent from those on the mainland, which may have contributed to their resilience during the outage [7].
4. Despite being spared from the massive outage, some reports suggest that Lanzarote experienced "knock-on effects" and inconveniences due to the situation on the mainland [6].

Analysis

The evidence surrounding the claim is mixed, with both supporting and contradicting sources.

• Supporting Evidence:

  • The article from La Voz de Lanzarote asserts that Lanzarote was not affected by the massive power outage due to its independent electrical supply [7]. This claim is corroborated by reports from Gazette Life, which also confirms that the islands did not experience the same level of disruption as the mainland [6].
  • The Canarian Weekly report details a specific incident where a wind turbine's collapse caused localized outages, but this does not correlate with the broader power outage affecting Spain and Portugal [4].

• Contradicting Evidence:

  • The BBC and The Guardian articles focus on the extensive power outages in Spain and Portugal, but do not provide direct evidence that Lanzarote was affected by these events [2][8]. The lack of specific details regarding Lanzarote in these reports raises questions about the completeness of the information.
  • The Gazette Life article mentions that while Lanzarote escaped the massive power cut, it does acknowledge that the island faced some inconveniences due to the situation on the mainland, which could imply some level of impact [6].

Source Reliability

• The BBC and The Guardian are reputable news organizations known for their journalistic standards, which lends credibility to their reports on the broader power outage. However, they do not focus specifically on Lanzarote, which limits their relevance to this claim.
• The Canarian Weekly and Gazette Life are more localized sources that provide specific information about Lanzarote. While they are likely to have more direct knowledge of the situation, their potential biases towards local interests should be considered.
• The Wikipedia page on major power outages is a general resource and does not provide specific information relevant to this claim, making it less useful for this analysis [1].

Conclusion

Verdict: Mostly True

The evidence suggests that Lanzarote was largely unaffected by the major power outage that impacted mainland Spain and Portugal, primarily due to its independent electrical system. Reports from local sources indicate that while the island did experience a separate incident involving a wind turbine collapse, this was not directly related to the widespread blackout. However, there were some reported inconveniences on the island due to the situation on the mainland, which introduces a degree of uncertainty regarding the overall impact on Lanzarote.

It is important to note that while the majority of evidence supports the claim that Lanzarote was not significantly affected, the nuances of localized incidents and the potential for indirect effects complicate a definitive conclusion. The lack of comprehensive reporting specifically addressing Lanzarote in major news outlets also highlights limitations in the available evidence.

Readers are encouraged to critically evaluate the information presented and consider the context and sources when forming their own conclusions about the situation.