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🇫🇷 France /Culture & Society

Power cut, bedbugs plague Paris cinema

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • A Paris cinema experienced a power outage and a suspected bedbug infestation during a screening.
  • The UGC des Halles cinema stated the two incidents were independent and that it has had bedbug protocols in place since 2017.
  • The cinema acknowledged the issue, citing a national statistic that over 10% of French households experienced bedbug infestations between 2017 and 2022.

A screening at the UGC des Halles cinema in Paris was disrupted by a power outage and a suspected bedbug infestation, prompting an evacuation. The incident occurred Sunday afternoon in one of the cinema's 30 theaters, which is reportedly the largest in the world.

She has big bites.

— Unidentified patronHeard in a social media video showing the cinema screening disruption.

A video circulating on social media showed a woman complaining of bites on her back, with other patrons reacting to the situation. Cinema staff initially cited a "small power outage" before proceeding with the evacuation. Reports suggest other power cuts may have occurred.

UGC des Halles later issued an apology, attributing the issues to two separate incidents. The cinema confirmed a temporary external power outage beyond its control and stated that affected patrons were assisted. Regarding the bedbugs, the establishment stated it immediately activated its emergency protocol, which includes closure, canine detection, treatment if necessary, and follow-up checks before reopening the affected theater. These measures have been in place since 2017, according to UGC.

a small power cut

— Cinema employeeMentioned during the evacuation of the cinema hall.

The cinema emphasized its commitment to combating bedbugs, investing heavily since 2017 and working with French experts. It conducts regular preventive treatments and responds immediately to any reported sightings. UGC noted that, according to the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, over 10% of French households were infested between 2017 and 2022, making cinemas like UGC susceptible, as are all public venues in France. The Ministry of Health and Prevention states bedbugs pose no health risk and do not transmit diseases.

two independent incidents

— UGC des Halles cinemaStated in a press release addressing the power outage and bedbug concerns.

Despite these assurances, online reviews suggest ongoing problems. One comment from May described a similar experience with bedbug bites in a different theater, questioning the effectiveness of the cinema's stated "fight" against the pests.

a temporary external power outage, completely independent of our will

— UGC des Halles cinemaDescribing the cause of the electricity disruption.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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