A fire on a power pole caused massive power outages in the Oder-Spree region this morning. The factory of the electric car manufacturer Tesla is also affected. The factory was evacuated and production is at a standstill.
There was a massive power outage on Tuesday morning in the Erkner area in the Oder-Spree district. The police are now assuming an arson attack, as a spokesman confirmed to rbb.
Environmentalists are calling for politicians to stop the Tesla expansion
The protest camp against the expansion plans of the Tesla factory in Grünheide continues. Environmental activists see politicians as having a duty and do not want to end their protest so quickly. Residents recently voted against an expansion.more
Tesla factory evacuated, production comes to a standstill
According to the fire department, the Tesla factory in Grünheide is also affected by the power outage. Production in the only European Tesla car factory is at a standstill. A spokesman said this on Tuesday. The Farbik was therefore evacuated immediately after the power outage at around 5:30 a.m.
As Tesla continued, all measures were taken to secure the production facilities. Tesla is in constant communication with authorities and the electricity provider Edis. According to Tesla, authorities have announced that it was an arson attack. The company was initially unable to confirm whether Tesla was also the target.
In addition to Erkner, Woltersdorf, Gosen-Neu Zittau, Freienbrink, Fangschleuse, Wilhelmshagen and Rahnsdorf were and are affected by the power outage. According to current information from rbb, hospitals in southeast Berlin are also affected.
The situation in the occupied forest near the Tesla factory in Grünheide remains relaxed
On the second day after the protest began in a forest near the Tesla factory, only a few police officers can be seen on site. Dozens of activists are currently in the pine forest and have built tree houses. A longer protest is to be expected.more
Detached electricity pylon burned
According to the Oderland control center, there was a fire on a overhead line mast in a field between Gosen-Neu Zittau and Steinfurt in the morning. Police spokesman Roland Kamenz told rbb that the electricity pylon was free-standing in a field. Initially there was talk of a transformer station. Regarding the possible cause, the spokesman said so far: “We are investigating in all directions.”
As the police announced in the morning, the fire department was called to the fire at around 5:15 a.m. and began extinguishing the fire. After the alarm was raised, a police helicopter was also deployed.
The fire has now been extinguished. However, it could still be a short time before all areas are supplied with electricity again.
Connection to Tesla protest not confirmed
When asked, authorities initially did not want to confirm a possible connection with protests around the Tesla factory site. Around 80 to 100 environmental activists hold Since last week, part of the state forest in Brandenburg has been occupied near the Tesla factorywhich Elon Musk’s company plans to clear if its site expands.
The activists have built around ten tree houses several meters high and announced that they want to hold out for as long as possible. The Grünheide citizens’ initiative also speaks out against Tesla’s expansion plans and shows solidarity with the occupiers.
Broadcast: Radio Fritz, March 5, 2024, 8 a.m
