The Civil Protection Department’s communications systems were put to the test yesterday – not by a full-scale emergency but by workmen who damaged a cable outside their base in Ta’ Kandja. The fault occurred when, at about 10 a.m., workers digging a trench struck a telecoms cable, which handled the department’s land lines. Go staff started repairs shortly after and the situation was close to normal in the afternoon.

CPD director Patrick Murgo said the 112 emergency line was not affected and calls were being taken at police headquarters in Floriana and forwarded to them using the backup system, which transferred calls onto the mobile network.