In France, in Cannes, a popular destination among tourists, a widespread power outage occurred on Saturday, threatening to disrupt the main cultural event of the year — the closing ceremony of one of the world’s most renowned film festivals
The authorities suspect that the cause of this emergency might have been deliberate actions, including sabotage through arson and damage to electrical poles. According to reports from Agence France-Presse (AFP) and France Info, citing local authorities and the French Ministry of the Interior, this version received additional confirmation during the investigation. The large-scale power outages resulted from a series of tense incidents that took place in the region overnight and in the morning. The Deputy Head of the French National Gendarmerie emphasized that the investigation is focused on determining whether an electric substation near Cannes was deliberately set on fire, which became a key point in the unexpected blackout. Preliminary information indicates that this particular station was struck by fire, causing damage to the network and a significant power outage that affected not only the city but also the surrounding areas. Additionally, experts found that another incident contributed to the crisis — a few hours earlier, a high-voltage line had collapsed in a different district. The causes of the line’s break are still under investigation, but law enforcement officials do not rule out the possibility of deliberate sabotage by malicious actors aimed at disrupting the power supply. The regional Prefect, Laurent Hottu, condemned the actions that caused serious damage to the infrastructure in his official statement. He stressed that the authorities have mobilized all available resources to identify those responsible and hold them accountable. According to the official, all measures are being taken to investigate and prevent similar incidents in the future. The investigation is uncovering a chain of events. Specifically, on Friday evening, an arson attack was recorded at a power plant in Tanneron that supplies energy to the Var region. This incident caused a significant power outage affecting about 45,000 consumers and marked the first phase in a series of sabotage acts. The next morning, Saturday, the offenders also cut and destroyed three concrete supports of a high-voltage line in Villeneuve-Loubet, deepening the energy crisis in the area. Information about these acts has been collected from official sources as part of two investigations being conducted by local police and prosecutors. They are exploring various theories, including motives and the planners behind these malicious actions. The Ministry of the Interior confirmed that these criminal acts were identified during the damage to the Saint-Cassien power station in Tanneron, which was set on fire on Friday. This incident caused a temporary blackout for nearly 45,000 households overnight. Overall, the widespread power supply issues in the region lasted several hours and affected about 160,000 households and facilities. Residents of Cannes, neighboring towns, and villages remained without electricity, creating significant difficulties for locals, businesses, and tourist sites, including the star-studded Cannes Film Festival closing ceremony, which traditionally garners global attention. While search and investigative efforts continue, experts suggest that intentional saboteurs may have aimed to create chaos, destabilize the region, or even discredit local authorities. However, the French government emphasizes that the measures taken are entirely motivated by the desire for security and stability, and that the investigation will help establish all circumstances of the incidents and identify those responsible. During this tense time, all agencies are engaged in investigations, while citizens watch with concern the possible consequences of this sabotage. Nonetheless, officials assure that the situation is under control, and the most challenging phases of the investigation are nearing completion. At the same time, official reports and specific measures to protect the energy infrastructure in the future are expected, to prevent similar crimes and ensure uninterrupted electricity supply for several hundred thousand residents in the region.