UPDATE 2-Dutch emergency services hit by major telecoms outage

A major telecommunications outage hit the Netherlands on Monday, crippling emergency services and rendering police and other government services unreachable. The outage originated on the network of national carrier Royal KPN NV, which is also used by other telecommunications providers. KPN said in a statement on its website both its fixed-line and mobile networks were affected. It did not give any indication of the cause. Officials from the company could not be reached by phone or email for comment.

The outage was the largest in memory in the Netherlands, a nation of 17 million which prides itself on the technical prowess of its telecommunications infrastructure. People with medical or other emergencies were instructed on Twitter to go directly to hospitals, fire departments or local police stations.

The main police and emergency numbers were not working. Regional emergency service authorities published alternative numbers on Twitter. The Dutch Economic Affairs Ministry, responsible for telecommunications, could not be reached by phone, and emails seeking comment were not immediately answered.

A police spokeswoman told the national broadcaster that all working police officers were being sent out on patrol.