Berlin reimbursed nearly €900,000 (≈$1.04m) for hotel stays after a January blackout that left tens of thousands without heat and power following a suspected arson attack. Officials reviewed 3,116 applications and paid 2,933 claims (avg. €52–€55 per person, per night), while 129 requests were rejected. The outage affected about 100,000 people and over 2,000 businesses; power was restored on January 7.
Berlin Reimburses Nearly €900,000 After Massive January Blackout
FILE PHOTO - A man carries his bicycle down a flight of stairs during a power outage at the Mexikoplatz S-Bahn station in southwest Berlin. Following a cable bridge fire, around 50,000 households and 2,000 businesses in southwest Berlin lost power. (is associated with: «Berlin pays nearly €900,000 for hotel stays after major blackout») Sebastian Gollnow/dpa
Berlin authorities have reimbursed nearly €900,000 (about $1.04 million) to cover hotel stays after a major power outage in January left tens of thousands without electricity and heating.
Relief Payments and Eligibility
Officials from the local district administration reviewed 3,116 applications — many representing multiple people — and paid 2,933 claims. Reimbursements averaged €52–€55 per person, per night. A further 129 applications were rejected, mainly because stays fell outside the eligible period or were not in commercial accommodation.
Cause and Impact
The blackout followed a suspected arson attack on a cable bridge on January 3, which authorities believe was carried out by left-wing extremists. It became the longest power cut in Berlin’s post-war history, affecting around 100,000 people in 45,000 households and disrupting more than 2,000 businesses.
Power was fully restored on January 7. Thousands of residents spent several days in hotels amid subzero temperatures; the reimbursements were intended to cover immediate shelter costs during the outage.
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