Electricity returns to Berlin after the longest blackout since World War II
Life returned to normal in southwest Berlin on Wednesday after authorities fully restored power following a multi-day blackout that paralyzed large areas. The outage was caused by a suspected arson attack on a power station, which left tens of thousands of homes and businesses without electricity.
Details of the accident and the repair process
Berlin Mayor Kai Wegener announced that power was being gradually restored starting at 11 a.m. local time, describing the process as "extremely complex" and requiring intensive technical efforts. A fire broke out early Saturday morning, destroying a main cable duct and causing a power outage affecting approximately 45,000 homes and more than 2,000 businesses in southwestern districts. The outage occurred as the city was experiencing a sharp drop in temperatures, exacerbating the hardship for residents who rely on electricity for heating.
Longest interruption since World War II
This event is of historical and exceptional significance, as it is considered the longest power outage to hit the German capital since the end of World War II. This description evokes memories of the 1940s when Berlin suffered widespread infrastructure destruction, but such a blackout in a major industrial nation like Germany in the 21st century highlights the vulnerability of vital infrastructure to sabotage attacks.
Infrastructure security challenges in Europe
This incident comes amid heightened tensions in Europe, and particularly in Germany, where concerns have grown in recent years about the security of energy infrastructure. German authorities face increasing challenges in protecting electricity and railway networks from acts of sabotage, whether politically or criminally motivated. Experts suggest that this incident may prompt the federal and state governments to reassess security measures around critical facilities to ensure that such incidents, which threaten national and economic security, are not repeated.
Economic and social impact
The blackout not only caused a lack of electricity and heating, but also resulted in economic losses for shops and businesses forced to close for several days. It also disrupted telecommunications and internet networks in the affected area, partially isolating residents from the outside world. Security authorities are currently intensifying their investigations to identify the perpetrators, amidst public calls for increased security around power stations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
