Posted: 11th May, 2004 By: MarkJ
BT has published its preliminary investigation into the March 2004 Manchester tunnel fire, which knocked out roughly 130,000 phone lines in the area. The operator doesn't take responsibility, but it has agreed to pay compensation:
Despite its initial findings, BT has made it clear that "is not accepting any blame or responsibility for the fire". Instead, it is prepared to cough up compensation because, as a spokeswoman put it, "we feel it is the right thing to do... BT will honour its contractual commitments to its customers and is processing claims," it said.
In a statement the company said: "BT today said that the results of its preliminary investigations into the cause of the Manchester fire were now known. The fire severely affected communications services in and around the city last month.
"The initial findings indicate it started as a result of damage to electrical equipment. BT believes that during the course of work being undertaken in the tunnel before the fire, electrical fittings were damaged and this damage may have caused the fire. Investigations are ongoing."More @
The Register.