A survey carried out by Portal da Queixa with around 3,000 people reveals how the experience of the national blackout was viewed by the population.

For 84% of Portuguese people, the lack of access to communications was the main difficulty. More than 41% believe that the Government and public entities did not handle the situation well. Among the operators, Digi was the one with the most complaints.

The Iberian blackout that affected Portugal last Monday caused not only an energy collapse, but also a communications collapse. According to research carried out by Portal da Queixa, based on thousands of responses from citizens across the country, the main difficulty faced was the lack of access to communications (84.1%), followed by the lack of information or support (57.8%).

What difficulties did you face during the blackout?

  • Lack of access to communications 84.1%
  • Lack of information/support 57.8%
  • Lack of access to water/food 18.1%
  • Other (please specify which) 10.8%
  • Impossibility of transportation/travel 10.1%
  • Unjustified price increase 4.8%

The crisis has highlighted the fragility of critical infrastructure and the lack of preparation of public entities for a coordinated and effective response.

According to the survey, during the blackout period, the Portuguese were mainly at home (48.2%) or at work (33.2%). According to the interviewees, the interruption affected not only daily life, but also the emotional health of the population, who found themselves unable to contact family members, access relevant information and make informed decisions.

Where were you when the blackout occurred?

  • House 48.2%
  • Work 33.2%
  • Street/ Other public space 10.8%
  • Other 6.8%
  • Public transport 0.6%
  • Airport 0.4%

The feeling of helplessness experienced by the Portuguese was aggravated by the negative perception of the management of the crisis: more than 41% consider that the Government and public entities did not deal with the situation well, while only 19% approve of the authorities' response.

In the opinion of Pedro Lourenço, founder of Portal da Queixa: "The blackout that hit Portugal last Monday highlighted one of the greatest weaknesses of our current society: the critical dependence on communications. More than 84% of those interviewed mentioned the difficulty in accessing networks and information channels, which increased the feeling of isolation and worsened collective stress. In times of crisis, it is precisely communication that must function as a central axis of support and guidance. However, the survey conducted by Portal da Queixa also reveals a worrying perception about the actions of public bodies and the Government, considered ineffective by a large part of the population.