Berlin, Zehlendorf, 5 January 2026. Reportage from Zehlendorf, Berlin, where about 45.000 households are blacked out for several days after an alleged arson attack on the Berlin power grid.
On January 3, a cable bridge in southwest Berlin was set on fire, damaging high-voltage power lines. This resulted in over 100.000 people left without electricity and heating during a severe cold wave with temperatures as low as -14°C in a city in a state of emergency.
Words by Remco Andersen.
Work produced on assignment for De Volkskrant.