Suspicions Grow Over Sabotage as Nice Faces Second Power Outage

After a devastating power outage affected Nice, following a similar incident in Cannes, authorities suspect malicious acts and have launched investigations into both events.

A second significant power outage has struck the French Riviera region, this time affecting Nice, due to a fire at a local substation, authorities suspect is linked to sabotage. The incident, occurring around 02:00 local time on Sunday, impacted at least 45,000 homes, following a previous blackout in Cannes that left around 160,000 residents without power and was believed to be the result of arson.

Local law enforcement noted evidence suggesting foul play in Nice, including "tyre tracks" leading to the broken entrance of the substation. The outage affected vital services, including operations at Nice Airport, the tramway network, and nearby towns such as Saint-Laurent-du-Var and Cagnes-sur-Mer, with power restored later that morning.

The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, publicly condemned these "malicious acts" threatening the safety of the nation, while deputy mayor Gaël Nofri indicated that the fire’s cause is "probably of criminal origin." The timing of these disturbances coincides with the prestigious film festival in Cannes, where numerous screenings were disrupted when the blackout hit.

Currently, no definitive connection has been established between the incidents in Nice and Cannes. However, Estrosi announced plans to enhance security around electrical installations in the city. Additionally, Nice prosecutor Damien Martinelli confirmed an investigation has been initiated to examine the incidents thoroughly, particularly focusing on identifying the extent of the damage and the methods used in these possible acts of sabotage.