A suspected arson attack led to widespread power disruptions in southern France on Saturday, affecting Cannes during its world-famous film festival as investigators look into the cause of a fire at a local power station.
Southern France experienced a major power outage on Saturday, including the city of Cannes, where the renowned Cannes Film Festival was taking place. Authorities have opened an investigation into a possible arson attack as the cause of the disruption.
The blackout originated from a fire at a high-voltage power station in Tanneron, a town located about 23 kilometers west of Cannes. According to the Alpes-Maritimes departmental office, the fire significantly disrupted power in the region. A spokesperson for the French national gendarmerie confirmed that officials are considering the likelihood that the fire was started intentionally. No arrests have been reported at this stage.
Local businesses in Tanneron, such as a café and a bakery, were without electricity on Saturday morning, leaving them unable to serve customers during peak hours.
Power returned partially in Cannes by the afternoon. The national electricity transmission operator, RTE, stated that work was underway to fully restore electricity to all affected areas within hours.
Despite the disruption, the Cannes Film Festival confirmed that the closing ceremony would proceed as planned on Saturday evening.
This incident follows a major blackout on April 28 that impacted the Iberian Peninsula, affecting Spain, Portugal, Andorra, and parts of southern France. Spain’s electricity grid operator REE reported that the disturbance began in regions like Granada, Badajoz, and Seville. These areas rely heavily on photovoltaic solar energy and lack synchronized backup sources such as hydroelectric, thermal, or nuclear power, making them especially vulnerable to fluctuations.
As soon as France detected frequency instabilities from Spain’s power grid, it disconnected from the shared system to protect its own infrastructure. This move left the Iberian Peninsula isolated, which intensified the disruption.
Authorities continue to investigate the Tanneron fire while monitoring grid stability in the region.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Thursday, July 31....
President Donald Trump has ordered sweeping new tariff increases on imports from more than 80 countries, citing continued trade imbalances and nationa...
Kazakhstan is preparing to raise oil exports through the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline to 1.7 million tonnes next year, Interfax-Kazakhstan r...
US President Donald Trump has sharply criticised Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell following the central bank’s decision to keep interest rates un...
A lightning strike measuring 829 kilometres observed in the United States in October 2017 has been confirmed by the World Meteorological Organization ...
A suspected arson attack may be behind the widespread power outage that struck southeastern France, disrupting daily life and briefly halting events at the Cannes Film Festival just hours before its grand finale.
After two thrilling weeks of premieres and parties, the Cannes Film Festival prepares to close with the crowning of this year's prestigious Palme d'Or winner.
The 2025 Cannes Film Festival, now at its halfway point, has already delivered surprises, standout stars, and new regulations, making it one of the most talked-about editions in recent years.
The 78th Cannes Film Festival opened with a star-studded ceremony, honoring Robert De Niro with an honorary Palme d’Or, as Hollywood’s finest gathered to celebrate cinema.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
'Superman' continued to dominate the summer box office, pulling in another $57.25 million in its second weekend, as theatres welcome a wave of blockbuster competition following a challenging few years for the film industry.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, in a meeting held at Netanyahu’s office. Details of their discussions were not disclosed.
The United States has imposed sanctions on officials from the Palestinian Authority (PA) and members of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), accusing them of undermining peace efforts with Israel.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Thursday, July 31.
President Donald Trump has ordered sweeping new tariff increases on imports from more than 80 countries, citing continued trade imbalances and national security concerns.
A lightning strike measuring 829 kilometres observed in the United States in October 2017 has been confirmed by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) as the longest recorded lightning event.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment