Major blackout hits Berlin: Tens of thousands left without power
Illustrative photo: A large-scale blackout occurred in Berlin (Getty Images)
A major power outage hit the southwestern part of Berlin on Sunday, leaving more than 45,000 households without electricity following a fire on a cable bridge, according to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
According to the operator Stromnetz Berlin, restoring power in the affected southwestern districts may take until January 8 for many households. The delay is due to the complexity of building temporary lines after the fire on the cable bridge over the Teltow Canal.
However, the operator expects to restore electricity to around 10,000 households from Saturday evening by rerouting power through other sections of the network.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Police are investigating on suspicion of arson, as Berlin’s security services received a letter claiming responsibility for the incident. Authorities are currently verifying the authenticity of the letter.
Police have warned that the outage may cause disruptions to mobile and landline communications. Residents are advised to contact the police or visit the nearest station or fire department in case of emergencies.
The scale of this incident is being compared to a similar case in southeast Berlin in September, when around 50,000 people lost power due to politically motivated arson targeting power line pylons.
For context, in December 2025, San Francisco, California, experienced a major blackout that left about 130,000 homes and businesses without electricity.
Last spring, several European countries also reported significant power disruptions, including Spain, Portugal, Andorra, and one region in France.
