Prague faces chaos as power outage disrupts city and trains

On July 4, 2025, a temporary power outage struck parts of the Czech Republic, particularly impacting the capital city of Prague. The situation commenced around noon when the city's entire subway network went offline, prompting immediate action from authorities. Prime Minister Petr Fiala addressed the matter, indicating that the outage affected various regions beyond Prague and that officials were working to restore power supply. The CEPS power grid operator confirmed issues in northern and eastern regions, with a possible cause being a fallen electricity line. As a result of the outage, public transport faced significant disruption. Most of the trams operating on the right bank of the Vltava River were halted, while those on the left bank remained unaffected. Service delays were reported in train operations near Prague and across other regions. Although the subway lines A and C were restored within approximately 15 minutes, line B took about 30 minutes to resume service. The ongoing restoration of power supplies was acknowledged as a priority by officials as the situation unfolded. Despite the chaos, Václav Havel Airport Prague, the city's international airport, appeared to be unaffected by the outage, ensuring that air travel maintained a level of normalcy amid the disruptions. Local businesses, including stores and restaurants, that remained operational during the power outage began to accept only cash payments following the interruption of electronic payment systems due to the lack of power. This led to inconveniences for customers and patrons navigating the situation in the city. By the end of the day, while reports indicated that some services were gradually returning to normal, officials continued to investigate the underlying cause of the outage. The government ruled out potential cyber or terror attacks as contributing factors, determining that the incident was more likely related to a mechanical malfunction affecting the power grid. The event not only highlighted the vulnerability of infrastructure in the country but also served as a reminder of the complexities involved in managing power supply amidst unexpected failures.