In the picturesque setting of Cannes, southeastern France, the prestigious film festival encountered a major hurdle on Saturday as a massive power outage struck the region. French authorities reported that roughly 160,000 homes lost electricity due to the blackout, which began at 10 a.m. RTE, the country's electrical grid operator, assured the public that repair crews were mobilized to address the issue. The cause of this widespread outage remains unknown as investigations are ongoing.
Despite the severity of the situation, festival organizers displayed remarkable adaptability. They confirmed that all scheduled events, including the highly anticipated closing ceremony, would proceed as expected thanks to a reliable backup power supply. Although some screenings at a single theater faced temporary interruptions, the majority of activities continued seamlessly.
Local traffic also suffered, with malfunctioning traffic lights causing additional challenges for residents and visitors. Authorities in the Alpes-Maritimes region advised caution for those traveling through affected areas, emphasizing the importance of safety during the unexpected disruptions. As the festival's climax approaches, including the awarding of the illustrious Palme d’Or, the community remains hopeful that all will proceed punctually without further setbacks.
Aurelien Breeden, reporting for The Times from Paris, continues to cover the unfolding events in this iconic festival amid the challenges presented.
Despite the severity of the situation, festival organizers displayed remarkable adaptability. They confirmed that all scheduled events, including the highly anticipated closing ceremony, would proceed as expected thanks to a reliable backup power supply. Although some screenings at a single theater faced temporary interruptions, the majority of activities continued seamlessly.
Local traffic also suffered, with malfunctioning traffic lights causing additional challenges for residents and visitors. Authorities in the Alpes-Maritimes region advised caution for those traveling through affected areas, emphasizing the importance of safety during the unexpected disruptions. As the festival's climax approaches, including the awarding of the illustrious Palme d’Or, the community remains hopeful that all will proceed punctually without further setbacks.
Aurelien Breeden, reporting for The Times from Paris, continues to cover the unfolding events in this iconic festival amid the challenges presented.
