NICE, France (AP) – A significant power outage struck southeastern France again on Sunday morning, particularly affecting the city of Nice. This incident was allegedly triggered by arson that damaged an electrical facility, leading to widespread disruptions.
Authorities have yet to determine whether this blackout is connected to a previous outage that occurred in Cannes on Saturday. That power disruption took place during the closing day of the well-known Cannes Film Festival, causing considerable inconvenience to the attendees and event organizers.
The blackout in Nice began around 2 a.m. local time, leaving approximately 45,000 households without electricity. The outage also affected the city’s tram service and briefly interrupted power at the Nice Côte d’Azur airport while it was closed for the night.
According to Enedis, the energy provider company, power was fully restored by 5:30 a.m. on Sunday. Following the incident, the public prosecutor's office in Nice announced the initiation of a criminal investigation into the suspected arson, categorizing it as “organized arson.”
Earlier in the day on Saturday, two other electrical installations in the Alpes Maritime department had also been damaged, which officials are also treating as arson related. That event resulted in a temporary outage affecting about 160,000 homes, coinciding with the ongoing activities of the Cannes Film Festival.
The Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, expressed his outrage regarding the attacks, stating his strong condemnation of these “malicious acts” that target the nation. He confirmed that the city had lodged a formal complaint regarding the incidents. In his public remarks, Estrosi emphasized the critical nature of these attacks, particularly their potential impact on essential services such as hospitals.
Estrosi further announced that all sensitive electrical infrastructure in the city would be placed under police protection to prevent further incidents. He declared a state of high alert until those responsible for the attacks are apprehended.
Both events, the Nice blackout and the previous outage in Cannes, highlight significant vulnerabilities in the electrical infrastructure of the region, raising alarms among local authorities and residents alike. The investigation continues as officials work diligently to ensure the safety and security of the community while seeking justice for the recent acts of vandalism.
