Internet, phone lines down in Muse after bomb blast hits cable

Local internet and phone connections were disrupted in the town of Muse yesterday after an explosion rocked the Swonlon Bridge in Muse township. U Zaw Min, Muse district administrator, said internet connections were severed entirely, while phone calls were not transmitting audio. An acquaintance was able to send The Myanmar Times an SMS message containing his Chinese phone number, which he spoke from yesterday. “There is no more internet connection and phone lines are down after a blast at the Swonlon Bridge. It damaged the cable line underneath the bridge,” he said at about 12pm on November 30. U Zaw Min added, “For data transferring, we have to use China lines. We hope to get it fixed soon.” Contacted yesterday evening, U Zaw Min said the telecommunications situation had not changed. The bridge explosion took place at about 3am yesterday, as fighting continued across multiple townships in northern Shan State 10 days after an offensive by an allied contingent of four ethnic armed groups on police and military outposts in Muse and Kutkai townships.

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