A severe fire at critical power infrastructure in south-west Berlin plunged tens of thousands into darkness over the weekend, with authorities pointing fingers at left-wing extremist groups for the potentially deliberate act.
Widespread Disruption in Freezing Berlin
The crisis began on Saturday morning when a fire erupted on a cable bridge spanning the Teltow Canal, close to the Lichterfelde power plant. The flames severely damaged high-voltage power lines, triggering an immediate and widespread blackout.
The initial impact was massive, cutting off electricity to over 45,000 households and 2,200 businesses across four districts. The failure cascaded, disrupting not just power but also heating and internet services. Authorities, in a statement released on Sunday, warned that some areas might not see power restored until Thursday.
Hospitals and Care Homes Worst Affected
The most severe consequences were felt by Berlin's critical infrastructure. Hospitals and nursing homes, reliant on uninterrupted power, were among the most adversely affected institutions. Berlin's Senator for Economic Affairs, Franziska Giffey, described the situation as a "particularly severe power outage" impacting vital care facilities and social institutions alongside homes and companies.
While repair crews managed to restore electricity to many areas by Sunday, their efforts were severely hampered by harsh winter conditions. Snow and freezing temperatures made the restoration work dangerous and slow, compounding the misery for those still waiting for their power to come back on.
Investigation Points to Deliberate Sabotage
Berlin's Mayor, Kai Wegner, did not mince words, directly blaming "left-wing extremists" for the attack. "It is unacceptable that once again clearly left-wing extremists have attacked our power grid and thereby endangered human lives," he stated. This incident bears a striking resemblance to a power outage in southeast Berlin last September, which radical activists claimed responsibility for.
Authorities are currently investigating the authenticity of a letter that has surfaced, purportedly claiming responsibility for this latest attack. The ongoing probe is treating the fire as a possible case of arson, adding a layer of intentional sabotage to the already challenging technical and environmental recovery efforts.
