• Two major power outages struck Nice and Cannes due to suspected arson.
• A fire in Nice affected around 45,000 homes, following a similar incident in Cannes.
• Authorities are enhancing security around electrical grid sites amid ongoing investigations.

French authorities reported that a fire at a substation in Nice has resulted in a power outage affecting about 45,000 homes, marking the second major disturbance in two days due to suspected arson. This incident follows a significant blackout during the final day of the Cannes Film Festival, which also experienced disruption from a similar attack. The Nice blackout began around 2 a.m. and power was restored by 5:30 a.m., according to officials from the energy provider Enedis, as reported by BBC and India Times.

The incidents prompted Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi to strongly denounce these "malicious acts" and state the need for heightened security measures around the city's electrical infrastructure. He emphasized the risks these attacks pose, particularly to essential services such as hospitals, during a press briefing. Investigations are underway, led by Nice's chief prosecutor Damien Martinelli, into organized arson, and potential connections between the two incidents are being explored, as detailed by Le Monde, LA Times, and Le Monde.

Details from the investigation indicate that the fires were intentionally set, with police finding evidence such as broken doors and tire tracks near the substation. The coordinated nature of these attacks has led authorities to explore links to anarchist groups, with one such organization claiming responsibility for the sabotage on electronic installations. This complicated situation highlights ongoing security concerns in the region, as reported by LA Times and Le Monde.