A significant energy outage struck southeastern France on Saturday morning, disrupting traffic and briefly halting occasions on the Cannes Movie Competition as the distinguished occasion ready handy out its prime prize.
Energy was restored round 3 p.m. native time, as music started blasting once more from beachfront audio system. The top of the blackout was greeted with loud cheers from locals.
Earlier, about 160,000 households within the Alpes-Maritimes division misplaced electrical energy after a high-voltage line fell Saturday morning, electrical energy community operator RTE stated on X. The outage got here hours after a hearth at {an electrical} substation close to Cannes in a single day had already weakened the grid.
Police have opened an investigation into doable arson.
“We’re wanting into the chance of a hearth being began intentionally,” stated a spokesperson for the French nationwide gendarmerie.
Lewis Joly / AP
Cannes Movie Competition organizers confirmed the outage affected the early actions of Saturday and stated the Palais des Festivals — the Croisette’s essential venue — had switched to an impartial energy provide.
“All scheduled occasions and screenings, together with the Closing Ceremony, will proceed as deliberate and beneath regular situations,” the assertion stated. “At this stage, the reason for the outage has not but been recognized. Restoration efforts are underway.”
Site visitors lights in elements of Cannes and the encompassing metropolis of Antibes stopped working after 10 a.m. native time, resulting in site visitors jams and confusion in metropolis facilities. Most outlets alongside the Croisette remained closed, and native meals kiosks have been solely accepting money. Practice service in Cannes was additionally disrupted.
Screenings on the Cineum, one of many competition’s satellite tv for pc venues, have been briefly suspended, the competition added.
The lineup was unveiled final month for Cannes.
