Phone lines for emergency services have been restored, after some Manitobans found themselves unable to call 911 on Wednesday.
Wireless and wireline emergency calls can now be made, Bell MTS confirmed in an email statement to Global News.
“Manitoba 9-1-1 service has been successfully restored following a third-party fibre cable cut that interrupted service outside of Winnipeg earlier today,” Bell’s statement said.
Before it was repaired, a spokesperson for the Manitoba RCMP told Global News it has been made aware of an issue affecting 911 calls and is in contact with the service provider.
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The Brandon Police Service said the disruption is not related to the Brandon Public Safety Communication Centre and that the telecommunications service provider was “actively working to resolve the issue”.
Bell MTS told Global News it was investigating a cut to a third party fibre in an email statement before service was restored.
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“A backup system is now allowing the majority of wireless customers to be rerouted to 9-1-1, while landline customers should use a wireless device or call their local police/fire/ambulance department’s direct 10-digit phone number or go directly to the nearest fire station, police station, or hospital emergency room,” a Bell spokesperson said in the initial statement.
RCMP can be reached at its 24/7 emergency line at 1-800-770-5022.
Shared Health is asking people to call the Manitoba Transportation Coordination Centre at 204-625-2111.
The fact that this could ever happen in the first place is a sign of how our city designs and manages it’s infrastructure. It shouldn’t be possible for a single cut to disrupt emergency communications like 911. Why did it take all day for them to get the backup running? Someone needs to be held accountable for these sorts of unacceptable incidents. But as usual, they’ll all just get bonusses tacked on to their salaries.