Thousands of people without power for four days in southwest Berlin
About 27.8 thousand households and nearly 1,450 businesses in the southwestern districts of Berlin have been without electricity and heating for four days after a cable bridge was set on fire. According to the city authorities, up to 100,000 people have been affected by the large-scale blackout. This is reported by The Public with reference to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
Stromnetz Berlin informs that the full restoration of power supply is expected no earlier than Thursday afternoon. For now, residents are forced to stay in cold apartments or use temporary shelters. About 20 schools remain closed for the second day in a row.
The city senate is considering paying for hotels for vulnerable people. According to Mayor Kai Wegner, Bundeswehr units have also been deployed to the region to help deliver and refuel emergency generators. The power supply has already been restored to all 74 retirement homes, supermarkets are partially reopening, and train traffic on some S-Bahn lines is gradually stabilising.
Police have deployed around 300 officers to patrol the areas and prevent looting. The investigation is ongoing. The attack was claimed by a left-wing extremist group that has previously been involved in cases of sabotage against transport and energy infrastructure.
