A suspected sabotage incident led to power outages affecting around 160,000 homes and disrupting the Cannes Film Festival, though organizers managed to use alternative power sources for the closing ceremony.
Power Outage Disrupts Cannes Film Festival Amid Sabotage Suspicions
Power Outage Disrupts Cannes Film Festival Amid Sabotage Suspicions
Authorities investigate potential sabotage as power cuts affect the final day of the prestigious event.
A significant power outage caused by suspected sabotage gripped Cannes, disrupting the illustrious Cannes Film Festival on its final day. Around 160,000 households in Cannes and neighboring areas lost power on Saturday morning, with supply being restored by the afternoon. Investigations by officials revealed that an electricity substation had been deliberately set ablaze, while damage was also inflicted on a nearby pylon, leading to a secondary outage. Despite the disruptions, festival organizers assured that the closing ceremony would capitalize on an alternative power supply.
Initial reports indicate that the first power cut stemmed from an arson attack targeting a substation in Tanneron, a village supplying electricity to Cannes. A second outage was triggered around 10:00 AM GMT when legs of an electricity pylon near Villeneuve-Loubet were severed. The impacts of the outage were felt widely in Cannes; shops and restaurants struggled to function. Restaurateur Laurent Aboukrat expressed urgency, stating, "Another hour and I'll throw everything away," referring to the spoiling goods in his restaurant's fridges.
A sense of panic spread among local businesses, from ice cream shops closing their doors to an overall slowdown in city operations. Australian producer Darren Vukasinovic painted a vivid picture of crisis, saying, "Cannes is in a total slowdown, meltdown... I think the town has run out of croissants." Several film screenings faced interruptions in the morning until festival organizers successfully transitioned to private generators to ensure events continued.
The day holds particular significance as French actress Juliette Binoche and her jury are poised to announce the coveted Palme d'Or winner, the festival's top honor, even amid the electricity crisis.
