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Cannes, France - The glitz and glamour of the Cannes Film Festival were momentarily eclipsed on Saturday as a significant power outage plunged southeastern France into darkness. The disruption extended far beyond the iconic red carpet, causing widespread traffic chaos and briefly halting proceedings at the prestigious film event, just as it was gearing up to announce a major award.

The outage, which began in the morning, affected a vast area, impacting transportation networks and leaving many residents and businesses without power. Traffic lights failed, leading to gridlock in major cities, and train services were severely disrupted, stranding commuters and impacting travel plans.

At the Cannes Film Festival, the power cut was a dramatic interruption. While the outage was relatively brief, it caused a temporary suspension of events, including the highly anticipated awards ceremony. Festival organizers swiftly worked to restore power and minimize the impact on attendees and scheduled screenings. Several attendees reported a sense of surrealism as the festival grounds were plunged into unexpected darkness.

“It was quite shocking, honestly,” said one journalist attending the festival. “One minute we were preparing for the ceremony, the next everything went dark. The atmosphere was a bit chaotic, but the organizers handled it remarkably well.”

Cause of the Outage Remains Under Investigation

The cause of the widespread power failure is still under investigation. Energy provider Enedis confirmed the outage and stated that teams were working tirelessly to identify the source of the problem and restore power as quickly as possible. Initial reports suggest a potential technical fault at a major power substation may be to blame, but a full investigation is underway.

“We understand the significant inconvenience this outage has caused to residents and businesses across southeastern France,” said an Enedis spokesperson. “Our priority is to restore power safely and efficiently, and we are working around the clock to achieve that.”

Ripple Effects Across the Region

The power outage’s impact extended beyond Cannes and transportation. Businesses were forced to close, and public services were disrupted. Hospitals and emergency services reportedly switched to backup generators to ensure uninterrupted care for patients. The disruption served as a stark reminder of the region's reliance on a stable power grid.

While power has been largely restored across the affected area, some localized outages persist. Enedis is urging residents to conserve energy to prevent further strain on the system. The incident highlights the vulnerability of critical infrastructure and the importance of robust backup systems to mitigate the impact of unforeseen events. The full economic impact of the outage is still being assessed but is expected to be significant, particularly for businesses reliant on electricity.

The Cannes Film Festival, however, is back in full swing, with screenings and events continuing as planned. The brief interruption has added an unexpected chapter to this year's festival, a story of resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity.