BT fire hits internet service
Published: 1 April 2010
by TOM FOOT
BROADBAND and telephone connections were disrupted yesterday (Wednesday) following a major flood at British Telecom’s communications nerve centre.
Thousands of BT customers in Camden – including Chalk Farm, Swiss Cottage, Belsize Park and parts of Hampstead – were affected.
Thames Water blamed workmen for damaging the water supply and causing an electrical fire in the four-storey block in Marylebone.
A BT spokesman said: “Tens of thousands of customers in parts of north-west London may be experiencing a loss of broadband and/or telephone service.
“Customers in other parts of the country may also be affected. As this is a complex incident we cannot accurately predict when all services will be restored.”
He advised anyone needing to contact the emergency services to “use a mobile phone or a friend or a neighbour’s working phone”.
London Fire Brigade attended the BT block in Bell Street at 7.30am.