UPDATE: A major outage affecting Verizon and Xfinity wireless and internet services has struck customers and businesses across northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA) late Friday afternoon. The disruptions began around 4 p.m. and persisted for over four hours, with services only restored around 8:30 p.m.
The outage spread across the Back Mountain and Wyoming Valley, impacting residents in Luzerne County and parts of Lackawanna County. Local officials quickly responded to the crisis, with Luzerne County 911 confirming on Facebook that they were receiving reports of “spotty phone service around the county, especially with Verizon and possibly other carriers.” Initial assessments suggest that the issues are likely related to severe weather in the area.
In a message to customers, Xfinity attributed their service disruptions to “severe weather in or around your area,” highlighting the potential for ongoing issues. This widespread outage not only interrupted personal communications but also severely impacted businesses, disrupting phone lines and credit card processing systems.
For many establishments, this created significant challenges. Restaurants like CK’s Cantina & Grill in Dallas took to social media to assure customers they were still operational, albeit for cash transactions only. “Our phones and internet are out but we’re still here and open for cash customers, so come see us!” they posted on Facebook, emphasizing their commitment to serving the community despite the circumstances.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and are advising residents to remain patient as services are restored. The community is urged to stay updated through official channels for any further developments regarding the outage.
As the situation evolves, customers are encouraged to share their experiences and stay connected for the latest updates. This incident underscores the critical nature of reliable communication services, especially during severe weather events.
Stay tuned for more information as we continue to follow this developing story.
