A major power outage has swept through French Riviera, but thanks to backup systems, the 78th Cannes Film Festival's glamorous closing ceremony will go ahead as planned.
A widespread power outage plunged much of Cannes and the surrounding area into darkness on Saturday, cutting electricity to 160,000 homes.
But despite the disruption, the much-anticipated closing ceremony of the 78th Cannes Film Festival will go ahead as planned, organisers have confirmed.
The blackout, which struck the western Alpes-Maritimes region, was first reported on social media by local authorities and electricity grid operator RTE.
Emergency crews were quick to respond, with seven fire engines and 20 firefighters tackling the blaze, which was brought under control by 7 am.
Unfortunately, the damage had already destabilised the network, leading to a cascading failure just hours later.
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The show must go on
In Cannes, the effects were immediate. Traffic lights went dark, shops shuttered, and telecommunications became patchy.
Even the iconic Palais des Festivals – the heart of the festival – experienced a brief interruption to screenings around 10 a.m.
However, the show must go on – and it will. Festival organisers reassured the public that the venue had switched to a dedicated generator system, ensuring all scheduled screenings and the closing ceremony – including the prestigious Palme d’Or presentation – will proceed without a hitch from 6:40 pm local time.
