A massive power outage plunged southwest Berlin into darkness on January 4. 45,000 homes were affected and had no electricity for several hours to days. Winter and freezing weather made the situation even worse for the residents, with no heating or electricity.
The blackout began early Saturday morning, hitting neighborhoods like Lichterfelde. Police quickly pointed to arson as the likely culprit after a fire destroyed cables near a critical power substation. A far-left group later claimed responsibility. They framed the attack as a statement against both the climate crisis and artificial intelligence. This incident isn’t the first time. There has been a similar incident in September 2025.
Emergency crews moved fast to help. Firefighters opened warming centers in local gyms, handing out blankets, hot drinks, and basic supplies with assistance from the Red Cross.
By Sunday, some homes had power again. However, thousands were still in the dark. Full power restoration will not be complete until January 8 in certain areas.
As the crisis wore on, public anger began to boil over. A video that went viral showed Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner getting an earful from a frustrated resident inside one of the emergency shelters.
The man confronted the mayor about elderly people forced to sleep in a freezing gym. He accused city officials of caring more about migrants than the locals. However, no evidence confirming unequal treatment.
