Massive Power Outage Hits Paris, Thousands Left in Darkness

On the evening of June 25, 2024, a massive power outage struck Paris, leaving over 150,000 residents without electricity. The blackout, starting around 7:30 PM local time, affected large portions of central and northern Paris.

Cause of the Outage

The electricity provider Enedis reported that the outage was caused by a failure in a major underground transformer station near the 10th arrondissement. This malfunction led to a cascading failure disrupting power supply across several neighborhoods. Emergency crews were immediately dispatched to address the issue.

Impact on Daily Life

The blackout resulted in significant disruptions:

• Several metro lines were temporarily halted
• Traffic lights stopped functioning, causing congestion
• Numerous businesses closed early
• Hospitals switched to backup generators to maintain critical services

Response and Safety Measures

Mayor Anne Hidalgo expressed her concern for affected residents and emphasized prioritizing vulnerable populations such as elderly individuals and those reliant on medical equipment. She advised citizens to remain calm and limit travel.

Enedis engineers are working around the clock to restore power, with expected full restoration within 12 hours. The company recommended residents to:

1. Unplug electronic devices to prevent damage when power returns
2. Use flashlights instead of candles to reduce fire hazards

Police have increased patrols to maintain public safety amid isolated traffic congestion and minor accidents caused by the blackout.

Context and Future Preparedness

This outage occurred during a period of high electricity demand driven by a heatwave in western Europe, stressing the energy grid. Experts warn that climate change may increase the frequency of similar incidents.

Utility companies across Europe are urged to modernize and strengthen infrastructure to prevent such large-scale outages. Meanwhile, Paris residents are reminded to be prepared for emergencies with basic supplies.

The City of Paris has established temporary cooling centers to assist those affected by both the blackout and the ongoing heatwave.

Stay tuned to Questiqa Europe News for continuing updates.

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