Sanctions, sabotage and a solar flare: False theories about cause of Iberian blackout still swarm

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Sanctions, sabotage and a solar flare: False theories about cause of Iberian blackout still swarm  With no official confirmation yet as to the cause of the unprecedented blackout, Euroverify fact-checks some of the unfounded theories that continue to run rampant online.  READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/05/09/sanctions-sabotage-and-a-solar-flare-false-theories-about-cause-of-iberian-blackout-still-  Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages

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00:00False theories about the Iberian blackout continue to circulate.

00:08Almost two weeks since the blackout on the Iberian Peninsula, the cause is yet to be confirmed.

00:14Available evidence suggests a systemic failure in the electricity grid,

00:19but new conspiracy theories are still emerging online.

00:23This falsified article from The Independent circulating on Telegram

00:28claims the blackout was caused by European sanctions on Russia.

00:33This video mimicking France 24 makes the same unfounded claim,

00:37saying the sanctions have left Europe's electricity grids vulnerable

00:42and that France may become the next victim of the energy apocalypse.

00:47These are fake reports and Ukraine has linked the campaign to pro-Russian disinformation actors.

00:54Other false theories claim authorities have said a solar flare,

00:59an intense release of magnetic energy from the sun's surface, caused the blackout.

01:04This post on X spreading the claim has been viewed almost two million times,

01:09but neither the Spanish nor the Portuguese government have made this claim.

01:13There was no solar flare activity on the day of the blackout,

01:16and a closer look at the video shows it's dated 10th of May 2024.

01:21As we often see with crisis events, the blackout also fueled the spread of anti-migrant disinformation.

01:28Viral videos on social media have alleged the Spanish army took to the streets

01:33to stop massive looting by so-called illegal immigrants.

01:38Yet there were no reports of looting by anyone following the blackout.

01:42The Spanish Interior Ministry said that the night of the incident was calm

01:47and without notable security or public order incidents.

01:51The Spanish Interior Ministry said that the French Quarter is an important part of the

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