Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

PARIS

City of Lights out: Paris hit by huge mystery power cut

Many Parisians were left in the dark on Monday afternoon after reports of a massive power cut that hit much of the French capital.

Published: 26 November 2018 17:04 CET
City of Lights out: Paris hit by huge mystery power cut
Illustration photo: AFP

The power cut hit parts of the French capital at around 4.30 pm on Monday afternoon.

At last four arrondissements were plunged into darkness: the 2nd, 10th, 11th and the 19th. 

As the electricity went off in Gare du Nord and Gare de L'Est stations in the north of the city, as well as one of the capital's most famous streets Rue de Rivoli in the centre, as well as across several arrondissements, unsurprisingly it didn't take people long to react on social media.

Videos and images posted on Twitter showed people walking around in the darkness at Gare du Nord station.

And while power was restored around The Local's offices in the 19th arrondissement after just a few minutes, it is unclear whether it has been restored across the entire city. 

Electricity provider Enedis said an incident caused a power cut across several arrondissements but their teams were able to restore power after several minutes.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

PARIS

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Efforts to relocate wild rabbits that are a common sight on the lawns of the historic Invalides memorial complex have provoked criticism from animal rights groups.

Published: 14 February 2024 13:01 CET
Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Tourists and Parisians have long been accustomed to the sight of wild rabbits frolicking around the lawns of Les Invalides, one of the French capital’s great landmarks.

But efforts are underway to relocate the fluffy animals, accused of damaging the gardens and drains around the giant edifice that houses Napoleon’s tomb, authorities said.

Police said that several dozen bunnies had been captured since late January and relocated to the private estate of Breau in the Seine-et-Marne region outside Paris, a move that has prompted an outcry from animal rights activists.

“Two operations have taken place since 25 January,” the police prefecture told AFP.

“Twenty-four healthy rabbits were captured on each occasion and released after vaccination” in Seine-et-Marne, the prefecture said.

Six more operations are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.

Around 300 wild rabbits live around Les Invalides, according to estimates.

“The overpopulation on the site is leading to deteriorating living conditions and health risks,” the prefecture said.

Authorities estimate the cost of restoring the site, which has been damaged by the proliferation of underground galleries and the deterioration of gardens, pipes and flora, at €366,000.

Animal rights groups denounced the operation.

The Paris Animaux Zoopolis group said the rabbits were being subjected to “intense stress” or could be killed “under the guise of relocation”.

“A number of rabbits will die during capture and potentially during transport,” said the group, accusing authorities of being “opaque” about their methods.

The animal rights group also noted that Breau was home to the headquarters of the Seine-et-Marne hunting federation.

The police prefecture insisted that the animals would not be hunted.

In 2021, authorities classified the rabbits living in Paris as a nuisance but the order was reversed following an outcry from animal groups who have been pushing for a peaceful cohabitation with the animals.

SHOW COMMENTS