Power Outage Strikes Cannes Film Festival: An Unexpected Disruption

A significant power outage impacted the final day of the Cannes Film Festival, leaving numerous homes and businesses in disarray.

A power outage struck Cannes and the surrounding French Riviera on Saturday, causing significant disruption to the final day of the Cannes Film Festival. Approximately 160,000 residences lost power, according to France's electricity operator RTE. As local authorities examine the situation, speculation suggests a possible arson attack on a power substation as the main culprit behind the blackout.

Despite the inconvenience, festival organizers assured attendees that the closing ceremony would proceed as scheduled, aided by an alternative power source. Local businesses faced considerable challenges in the hours leading up to the restoration of power at around 15:00 local time (11:00 GMT). Laurent Aboukrat, owner of Jamin restaurant in Cannes, expressed distress, stating, "Another hour and I'll throw everything away," referring to the perishable goods in his offline fridges.

The outage created unprecedented chaos for both residents and visitors. "Cannes is in a total slowdown, meltdown; there's no coffee anywhere," lamented Australian producer Darren Vukasinovic, as local shops and cafés struggled to keep up with the demands of hungry patrons.

As police investigate the incident, a spokesperson for the gendarmerie confirmed they are exploring the possibility of deliberate fire setting. As the festival approaches its climax with the announcement of the Palme d'Or winner, local authorities are working diligently to address the aftermath of the disruption, ensuring the show can go on amidst unexpected challenges.