Alghero blackout after electrical substation fire prompts political criticism

A fire erupted at the Ambrogio Machin electrical substation in Alghero, Sardinia, triggering a blackout that left the historic centre without power. The outage affected commercial premises, tourist facilities and residential homes during the peak summer season.

Fratelli d'Italia’s local commerce chief Maurizio Papa condemned the situation, stating that “Alghero does not withstand the summer loads” and that the repeated incident shows the network is “sub‑dimensioned” and the cables “inadequate”. He blamed the municipal administration under Mayor Cacciotto and Enel for delays in upgrading the primary substation, calling for “certain timelines, precise checks and a serious dialogue with merchants and residents”.