For the second time in as many days, a major power outage has hit France’s Riviera region, this time impacting parts of Nice and nearby towns after a fire broke out at an electrical substation in the early hours of Sunday. Authorities suspect the blaze was the result of deliberate sabotage.
The fire, which ignited around 2:00 a.m. local time, disrupted power to approximately 45,000 homes. The outage affected critical infrastructure, including Nice Airport, the city’s tramway network, and the surrounding towns of Saint-Laurent-du-Var and Cagnes-sur-Mer. Electricity was gradually restored later in the morning.
Local police have reported that initial findings at the scene suggest foul play. According to local media, investigators discovered tyre tracks and signs of forced entry at the substation located in western Nice. The city’s deputy mayor, Gaël Nofri, stated that the incident was “probably of criminal origin.”
Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi took to social media to condemn what he described as “malicious acts that affect our country.” He also pledged to increase security measures at electrical facilities across the city, including deploying surveillance systems and stepping up patrols.
The incident follows a massive blackout in Cannes just a day earlier, during the ongoing Cannes Film Festival. That outage, which cut power to around 160,000 homes, was also blamed on a suspected arson attack at another substation. Several film screenings were temporarily halted before backup generators restored operations.
While no official connection has been made between the two incidents, the timing and proximity have raised concerns about a possible coordinated campaign targeting the region’s energy infrastructure.
The Nice prosecutor’s office has opened a formal investigation into “organised arson.” Prosecutor Damien Martinelli said efforts are focused on assessing the extent of the damage and determining how the act was carried out. He confirmed that law enforcement is working to identify any links between the two events and those responsible.
With the French Riviera currently in the global spotlight due to the Cannes Film Festival, the twin incidents have heightened security concerns and prompted calls for enhanced protection of public infrastructure. As investigations continue, officials remain on high alert for further disruptions.
