Telefónica Outage Cripples Emergency Services in Spain

Telefónica Outage Disrupts Emergency Services in Spain A major Telefónica network outage on May 20, 2025, caused widespread disruption to internet and emergency services (112) across several regions of Spain. The outage left many unable to contact emergency services via the standard 112 number. Social media quickly filled with reports of failed calls and frustrated citizens. In response, several regional governments activated alternative emergency lines. Aragon, Valencia, and the Basque Country all provided citizens with alternative numbers to ensure emergency services remained accessible. "It was terrifying," said one resident of Valencia, "I tried to call 112 several times, but got no response. I was relieved to find the alternative number online." The outage highlighted the critical reliance on telecommunications infrastructure for emergency response. Telefónica has acknowledged the incident and stated that they are working to identify the cause and implement measures to prevent future outages. While service was restored within hours for most, the incident served as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of widespread network failures.