Surge in Sabotage Reports: Nice Faces Power Outage Amid Ongoing Investigations

A second power outage within two days hit Nice, France, attributed to suspected sabotage after a fire at a substation. With over 45,000 homes affected, authorities have initiated investigations into both this incident and a similar blackout in Cannes, highlighting rising concerns over security.

A second power outage has rocked the French Riviera region, hitting Nice after a fire at a local substation was labeled as a suspected act of sabotage. The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, affecting approximately 45,000 homes, just a day after a significant blackout in Cannes that also raised suspicions of foul play.

Local police have reported finding "tire tracks" near the site and noted that the substation's door was forcibly broken, leading to increased scrutiny over the incident. The shutdown impacted essential services, including Nice Airport and the tramway network, as neighboring towns also experienced disruptions. Power was eventually restored later in the morning.

Nice's mayor, Christian Estrosi, took to X to condemn these "malicious acts" targeting the region, while deputy mayor Gaël Nofri suggested that the fire at the substation was likely of a criminal nature. This incident follows closely after the Cannes International Film Festival, during which a major blackout left around 160,000 homes without electricity due to a suspected arson attack on another substation.

Despite the proximity of these incidents, authorities have yet to establish a direct link between them. Mayor Estrosi announced that additional security measures would be implemented around Nice's electrical facilities to prevent future occurrences. Meanwhile, an investigation into what has been termed "organised arson" has been launched, with local prosecutor Damien Martinelli emphasizing the importance of determining the nature of these troubling acts.