On Saturday, a large-scale power outage affected approximately 160,000 homes in Cannes and surrounding areas, coinciding with the last day of the esteemed Cannes Film Festival.
Cannes Film Festival Hit by Major Power Outage Amid Closing Events
Cannes Film Festival Hit by Major Power Outage Amid Closing Events
A significant power failure in Cannes causes disruptions during the renowned film festival’s final day.
The power outage that struck south-eastern France affected around 160,000 residences as well as local businesses and event venues. Reports from France's electricity operator RTE confirm that power was restored by 15:00 local time (11:00 GMT). The disruption occurred just as the festival was preparing for its closing ceremony and the announcement of the prestigious Palme d'Or award.
While the festival organizers assured that the closing ceremony would proceed as scheduled thanks to backup power supplies, many local establishments were severely impacted. Restaurant owner Laurent Aboukrat expressed frustration, revealing that the outage rendered his kitchen unusable since morning, risking food spoilage. "Cannes is in a total slowdown, meltdown," remarked Australian producer Darren Vukasinovic, highlighting the widespread impact on culinary offerings in the town during the incident.
Police have launched an investigation into the possibility of an arson attack at a power substation as the cause of the power disruption. A spokesperson for the gendarmerie stated that they are looking into the likelihood of a deliberate fire incident. Despite the challenges posed by the power cut, the ramp-up to the festival's finale continued, with anticipation building over the unveiling of this year's top award winner by French actress Juliette Binoche and her jury.
While the festival organizers assured that the closing ceremony would proceed as scheduled thanks to backup power supplies, many local establishments were severely impacted. Restaurant owner Laurent Aboukrat expressed frustration, revealing that the outage rendered his kitchen unusable since morning, risking food spoilage. "Cannes is in a total slowdown, meltdown," remarked Australian producer Darren Vukasinovic, highlighting the widespread impact on culinary offerings in the town during the incident.
Police have launched an investigation into the possibility of an arson attack at a power substation as the cause of the power disruption. A spokesperson for the gendarmerie stated that they are looking into the likelihood of a deliberate fire incident. Despite the challenges posed by the power cut, the ramp-up to the festival's finale continued, with anticipation building over the unveiling of this year's top award winner by French actress Juliette Binoche and her jury.
