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All NI ambulance calls diverted to Scotland Communications problem at NI ambulance service resolved
(35 minutes later)
All calls to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service are being diverted to Scotland due to a problem with the NIAS communication network. The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service is able to receive calls again, after a major breakdown in its communications network on Saturday night.
It is understood all its telephone land lines and computers have been affected. For more than three hours, all of its calls were diverted to ambulance staff in Scotland, who then contacted NIAS workers via their mobile phones.
A NIAS spokesman said Scottish ambulance service staff were taking 999 calls from Northern Ireland and then passing the details on to NIAS headquarters via mobile phone. It is understood the problem began at about 19:30 GMT and all NIAS telephone land lines and computers were affected.
He added they were trying to rectify the problem as soon as possible. The issue was resolved shortly after 22:40 GMT.
It is understood the problem began at about 19:30 GMT.
NIAS spokesman John McPoland told the BBC that it appeared a back-up electricity generator had failed.NIAS spokesman John McPoland told the BBC that it appeared a back-up electricity generator had failed.
There have been problems with the electricity network across Northern Ireland due to heavy snow and strong winds.There have been problems with the electricity network across Northern Ireland due to heavy snow and strong winds.
Thousands of customers across eastern and northern areas have been without power since Friday.Thousands of customers across eastern and northern areas have been without power since Friday.
BT also said in a statement that weather conditions had caused "considerable damage" to its network.BT also said in a statement that weather conditions had caused "considerable damage" to its network.