Overview
- On Saturday, May 24, 2025, a major power outage affected 160,000 households in the Cannes region during the Cannes Film Festival's final day, caused by arson at a substation and damage to an electricity pylon.
- Despite the disruptions, the Cannes Film Festival's closing ceremony proceeded as planned, with Jafar Panahi's film 'It Was Just an Accident' winning the Palme d'Or.
- A second power outage hit Nice on Sunday, May 25, 2025, leaving 45,000 homes without electricity, also attributed to sabotage involving a fire at a transformer.
- Two anarchist groups have claimed responsibility for the outages, stating their intent was to disrupt the Cannes Film Festival and industrial establishments in the region.
- Authorities, including local officials and police, have condemned the 'malicious acts' and are intensifying security around key electrical infrastructure as investigations continue.