French Riviera Power Outage: Sabotage Suspected After Fire Cuts Power to 45,000

French Riviera Power Outage Suspected as Sabotage

Authorities in the French Riviera are increasing security around electricity infrastructure after a significant power outage impacted 45,000 people. The outage was triggered by a fire at a substation in Nice. Officials are investigating the incident as possible sabotage, especially considering a previous blackout during the Cannes Film Festival, also blamed on malicious acts.

Incident Details

According to reports, the fire damaged an electricity transformer in western Nice, causing the widespread power cut. Deputy Mayor Anthony Borre condemned the act on X. Mayor Christian Estrosi announced the reinforcement of security measures, including increased surveillance around critical electrical sites.

Cannes Film Festival Disruption

The incident follows a five-hour power disruption during the Cannes Film Festival, which affected traffic lights and ATMs, forcing organizers to rely on backup generators. Local authorities suspect arson and vandalism in that instance, linking it to the recent substation fire.

Power Restoration

Power was restored around dawn, according to officials and the Enedis grid company. The Nice prosecutors' office confirmed the substation fire occurred in the Moulins district.