A major power outage, suspected to be caused by sabotage, has disrupted the final day of the Cannes Film Festival, leaving thousands without power and causing chaos in the city.
Cannes Film Festival Hit by Suspected Sabotage Power Outage
Cannes Film Festival Hit by Suspected Sabotage Power Outage
Major electricity disruption mars final day of prestigious film event, raising security concerns.
Early Saturday morning, approximately 160,000 households in Cannes and nearby regions lost electricity, as officials confirmed arson at an electricity substation in Tanneron. The situation escalated when an electricity pylon near Villeneuve-Loubet was intentionally damaged, leading to a second outage. Despite the challenges, festival organizers announced they would proceed with the closing ceremony, relying on alternative power sources.
Restaurants and businesses across Cannes struggled to cope with the power loss. “Another hour and I’ll throw everything away,” lamented Laurent Aboukrat, owner of Jamin restaurant, as his fridges remained non-operational. Australian producer Darren Vukasinovic described the atmosphere, stating, "Cannes is in a total slowdown, meltdown; there's no coffee, and I think the town has run out of croissants."
The power cuts interrupted several screenings before the festival team was able to activate backup generators. As the day unfolds, attention is steadily turning towards the evening's climax, where the esteemed Palme d'Or winner will be announced, led by French actress Juliette Binoche and her jury.
Restaurants and businesses across Cannes struggled to cope with the power loss. “Another hour and I’ll throw everything away,” lamented Laurent Aboukrat, owner of Jamin restaurant, as his fridges remained non-operational. Australian producer Darren Vukasinovic described the atmosphere, stating, "Cannes is in a total slowdown, meltdown; there's no coffee, and I think the town has run out of croissants."
The power cuts interrupted several screenings before the festival team was able to activate backup generators. As the day unfolds, attention is steadily turning towards the evening's climax, where the esteemed Palme d'Or winner will be announced, led by French actress Juliette Binoche and her jury.
