In France, the emergency numbers were often unreachable during the night. The telephone provider Orange has been criticized.
Paris (AP) – A serious breakdown at the French telecommunications company Orange triggered a fault in emergency numbers across France.
In order to be able to continue to reach the fire brigade, the police or an emergency doctor, around 400 replacement numbers were set up on Thursday night, said Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin in Paris. President Emmanuel Macron said it was too early to take stock of the situation, but there were concerns, the French news agency AFP reported.
A person with cardiovascular disease is said to have died in Brittany because the emergency services could not be reached in time. Two other people with cardiovascular disease who had previously tried to call the emergency number died on the French island of Reunion Island. According to Darmanin, however, it is unclear whether it took a particularly long time for the rescue services to arrive in the cases on La Réunion and whether there is a connection to the breakdown.
Darmanin said it was “severe and unacceptable disorders”. The situation has since improved. In an emergency, citizens should first try to dial the usual numbers 15, 17 or 18 again. “We will remain particularly vigilant.” Orange said the services were working, but there was still increased monitoring of the network. Orange CEO Stéphane Richard apologized for the incident on Twitter.
The breakdown should now be investigated. Darmanin said he had returned prematurely from Tunisia, where he had been with Prime Minister Jean Castex, because of the incident.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210603-99-847438 / 2
