A second power outage in just two days has struck Nice, France, after authorities confirmed that a fire at an electrical substation was the result of a malicious act. The incident occurred overnight, approximately at 02:00 local time (01:00 BST), leaving around 45,000 homes without electricity. This outage comes just a day after a similar event in Cannes, where a massive blackout, coinciding with the international film festival, was also blamed on suspected sabotage.
Police reported finding "tyre tracks" near the damaged substation in western Nice, indicating possible foul play. The fire's aftermath significantly affected Nice's operations, including disruptions at Nice Airport and the tramway network, as well as neighboring areas like Saint-Laurent-du-Var and Cagnes-sur-Mer. Power restoration efforts were completed later that morning.
Local officials condemned the attacks, with Nice's Mayor Christian Estrosi publicly denouncing the "malicious acts that affect our country" via his social media account X. Deputy Mayor Gaël Nofri echoed these sentiments, suggesting that the fire's origin was likely criminal. Authorities are keen to reinforce security around electricity sites to prevent further incidents.
Notably, the blackout in Cannes impacted around 160,000 homes and caused interruptions to various film screenings until festival organizers managed to switch to private generators. As investigations progress, there is currently no established connection between the two widespread outages. Nice prosecutor Damien Martinelli has stated that inquiries are focused on understanding both the damage caused and the methods employed in these acts, particularly emphasizing potential organized arson. The investigation remains open as the community seeks answers and safety assurances.
