A harsh winter and a complete power outage: A "deliberate" fire cuts off the energy supply to southwest Berlin

A harsh winter and a complete power outage: A "deliberate" fire cuts off the energy supply to southwest Berlin

Berlin, the German capital, has been experiencing an exceptional situation since this morning, combining harsh weather with security challenges. The southwestern part of the city was plunged into a complete power outage, coinciding with the first snowfall of the season and a sharp, unprecedented drop in temperatures. This sudden blackout was not solely the result of winter weather; it followed a massive fire that broke out in high-voltage cables near a major substation, an incident that German police are investigating as a possible act of arson. Although firefighters successfully contained the blaze, the extensive damage to the energy infrastructure paints a grim picture for the coming days. Strömmingitz, the grid operator, announced that approximately 45,000 households, along with 2,200 essential businesses and institutions, including hospitals and nursing homes, will remain without power until next Thursday. The situation is particularly critical due to the close link between electri…