A fire at a substation in Nice followed a significant blackout in Cannes, leading to concerns over safety in the region.
**Power Sabotage: Second Outage Hits Nice Amid Investigation**
**Power Sabotage: Second Outage Hits Nice Amid Investigation**
Authorities in France are investigating two suspected sabotage incidents in two days, impacting thousands of homes.
The French Riviera has recently experienced two suspected acts of sabotage, with power outages affecting thousands of residents. A fire at a substation in Nice occurred overnight, impacting at least 45,000 homes and coincided with a similar incident in Cannes just a day prior. The blaze in Nice sparked around 02:00 local time, and local authorities have indicated the fire was likely caused by a malicious act.
Police have discovered "tyre tracks" near the scene and reported that the substation's door had been forcibly opened. The consequences of the outage extended beyond residential areas, affecting Nice Airport, the tram network, and neighboring towns including Saint-Laurent-du-Var and Cagnes-sur-Mer. Power was restored later that morning.
Mayor Christian Estrosi condemned the actions, labeling them as "malicious acts that affect our country." Deputy Mayor Gaël Nofri echoed these sentiments, suggesting that the fire was likely of criminal nature. This incident followed a major blackout in Cannes during its film festival, attributed to an arson attack on a substation, which left approximately 160,000 homes without power. The blackout disrupted several film screenings, although festival organizers managed to resume activities using private generators.
Authorities have not yet established a direct link between the two incidents; however, Mayor Estrosi announced enhanced security measures for the region’s electrical facilities. Nice prosecutor Damien Martinelli confirmed that an investigation into "organized arson" is in progress, with efforts focused on determining the extent of the damage and the methods employed in these acts. The community is grappling with anxiety as officials work to ensure further safety and monitor potential threats.
Police have discovered "tyre tracks" near the scene and reported that the substation's door had been forcibly opened. The consequences of the outage extended beyond residential areas, affecting Nice Airport, the tram network, and neighboring towns including Saint-Laurent-du-Var and Cagnes-sur-Mer. Power was restored later that morning.
Mayor Christian Estrosi condemned the actions, labeling them as "malicious acts that affect our country." Deputy Mayor Gaël Nofri echoed these sentiments, suggesting that the fire was likely of criminal nature. This incident followed a major blackout in Cannes during its film festival, attributed to an arson attack on a substation, which left approximately 160,000 homes without power. The blackout disrupted several film screenings, although festival organizers managed to resume activities using private generators.
Authorities have not yet established a direct link between the two incidents; however, Mayor Estrosi announced enhanced security measures for the region’s electrical facilities. Nice prosecutor Damien Martinelli confirmed that an investigation into "organized arson" is in progress, with efforts focused on determining the extent of the damage and the methods employed in these acts. The community is grappling with anxiety as officials work to ensure further safety and monitor potential threats.
