A suspected arson attack has left tens of thousands of homes and businesses in Germany’s capital without electricity in near-freezing temperatures.
A fire in southwest Berlin on Saturday prompted a major power outage, with around 45,000 households and 2,200 commercial entities across four districts affected, according to grid operator Stromnetz Berlin.
The cause was identified as a fire on a cable bridge over the Teltow Canal near the Lichterfelde power station, with several cables damaged as a result.
Approximately 10,000 households and 300 businesses in Berlin’s Lichterfelde district have since had electricity restored, Stromnetz Berlin said, although 35,000 households and 1,900 businesses remain affected.
The grid company said power for all customers is not expected to be restored until Thursday afternoon, at a time when Berlin is experiencing snowy conditions and sub-zero daily temperatures.
