Major Power Outage Hits Paris: Thousands Left in Darkness Amid Heatwave

A major power outage struck Paris on Thursday afternoon, leaving thousands of residents and businesses without electricity amidst an ongoing heatwave. The blackout began around 2 PM local time and affected multiple districts across the city.

Cause and Response

Electricity provider Enedis identified a technical fault in a major electrical substation as the cause of the outage. Teams of engineers were dispatched promptly to address the problem. Marie Dubois, a company spokesperson, stated that efforts are underway to restore power “as quickly and safely as possible.”

Impact on City Services

• Public transportation experienced temporary metro service interruptions due to safety concerns.
• Traffic lights went dark, resulting in congestion on main roads; additional police officers were deployed to manage traffic and assist pedestrians.
• Hospitals and critical care facilities activated emergency backup systems to continue providing essential services.

Heatwave Challenges

The heatwave brought temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit), worsening conditions for those affected by the blackout. In response, the city opened public cooling centers aimed at helping vulnerable groups such as the elderly and young children.

Economic and Social Effects

Several businesses, including restaurants and shops, experienced losses due to the sudden power disruption. The city council announced plans for financial assistance to support these affected companies. Meanwhile, residents expressed frustration on social media but also commended emergency responders for their swift and effective actions.

Restoration and Future Precautions

Power restoration began late in the evening, with full service expected by midnight. Enedis confirmed that the outage stemmed from equipment failure compounded by high demand during the heatwave.

Energy experts emphasized that extreme weather events are increasing the risk of such outages, underscoring the need for infrastructure upgrades and improved grid resilience.

Stay tuned to Questiqa Europe News for more updates on this developing situation.

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