A second power outage in just two days has hit the French Riviera, as authorities in Nice report a fire at a substation believed to be caused by sabotage. The fire occurred around 02:00 local time, affecting at least 45,000 homes. This incident follows a large blackout in Cannes, which experienced a significant power cut attributed to suspected arson over the weekend.
According to police in Nice, evidence of foul play was found at the substation, including “tire tracks” leading to a broken door, suggesting the incident may not have been accidental. The outage impacted vital services including Nice Airport, the tramway network, and neighboring towns like Saint-Laurent-du-Var and Cagnes-sur-Mer before power was restored hours later.
Local officials, including Nice's mayor Christian Estrosi, condemned the acts of sabotage, with Estrosi calling these incidents "malicious acts that affect our country." Similarly, deputy mayor Gaël Nofri indicated that the fire likely had "criminal origins." The day before, Cannes experienced an extensive blackout that disrupted events at the ongoing film festival, leading to emergency measures mobilizing private generators for screenings.
As investigations are launched into the circumstances surrounding both incidents, no established connection has been made between the two. Authorities are reinforcing security protocols around electrical facilities to prevent future acts of sabotage. Nice prosecutor Damien Martinelli stated that investigations aim to determine the specifics of the damage and how the incidents were carried out.
