Possible Arson Behind Power Outage in Cannes as Festival Wraps Up

French authorities investigate suspected deliberate fire causing power disruption in Cannes and surrounding areas, but festival’s closing ceremony goes ahead as planned.

CANNES, France, May 24 (Reuters) – French authorities are investigating whether an arson attack caused a power outage that plunged parts of the Alpes-Maritimes region, including Cannes, into darkness on Saturday.

The outage came at a critical moment, as Cannes hosts its globally renowned annual film festival. A spokesperson for the French national gendarmerie confirmed the possibility of deliberate arson, noting that no arrests have been made so far.

Earlier in the day, local authorities for the Alpes-Maritimes region reported a significant electricity outage affecting the western part of the area, including the city of Cannes. Energy company RTE France worked quickly to restore power to the region.

Despite the disruption, the Cannes Film Festival said that the closing ceremony and all other scheduled events would proceed as planned. “The Palais des Festivals has switched to an independent power supply, allowing all scheduled events and screenings, including the Closing Ceremony, to proceed as planned and under normal conditions,” the festival’s statement assured attendees.

As the investigation continues, festival-goers and local residents alike are hopeful for a swift resolution to the incident that cast a brief shadow over the final hours of one of the world’s most glamorous cultural events.