Power Outage Disrupts Cannes Film Festival; Sabotage Suspected
A significant power outage struck France on Saturday, impacting the town of Cannes during its annual international film festival. Authorities have launched an investigation into a possible arson attack, adding a layer of intrigue to the situation.
Investigation Underway
"We are looking into the likelihood of a fire being started deliberately," stated a spokesperson for the French national gendarmerie. At this stage, no arrests have been made.
Widespread Disruption
Earlier on Saturday, officials in the Alpes-Maritimes region reported that the western sector, including Cannes, experienced a major power disruption, leaving 160,000 homes without electricity. RTE France actively worked to restore electrical service to the affected areas.
The widespread power disruption began at 10 a.m. local time and power was restored by 4:30 p.m.
Suspected Sabotage
Local authorities suspect the blackout was intentional. Mandelieu-La Napoule's mayor, Sébastien Leroy, stated on Facebook that the incident appeared to result from a "double act of sabotage."
An electrical substation in Tanneron experienced a fire, followed by substantial damage to an electricity pylon, according to Alpes-Maritimes local government. The Alpes-Maritimes prefect strongly denounced "these serious acts of damage."
Closing Ceremony Unaffected
The power disruption coincided with the final day of the 78th Cannes Film Festival. The Cannes Film Festival organisers confirmed that the closing ceremony would proceed as scheduled on Saturday evening, thanks to an independent power supply for the Palais des Festivals.
