Verizon Outage Hits Southern California After Vandals Cut Fiber Lines

Verizon said vandals cut fiber cables in Southern California on Sunday, causing a service disruption that left thousands of customers without cellular or internet access. The outage, which began Sunday morning, affected areas including the San Fernando Valley, with residents reporting prolonged outages and emergency services struggling to maintain connectivity. Verizon confirmed the incident in a statement, calling it a dangerous disruption that jeopardized lifelines for first responders and public safety officials.

Vandalism Causes Major Outage

The outage was reported by customers on social media, with many describing their phones as stuck in “SOS” mode, unable to make or receive calls. According to Downdetector, more than 12,000 users reported an outage, with the majority of reports concentrated in Southern California. Verizon attributed the disruption to acts of network theft and vandalism, stating that the damage to fiber lines was not simple property crimes but dangerous disruptions that cut off critical connectivity.

The company said repairs were underway and that service was expected to be restored by early Sunday evening. Our engineers have resolved the issue that affected voice services for some wireless customers this afternoon, Verizon told CNBC, adding that customers still experiencing problems were advised to restart their devices. A spokesperson for the company emphasized the severity of the incident, stating, These are not simple property crimes; they are dangerous disruptions that cut off vital lifelines for our first responders and public safety officials who rely on constant connectivity.

Customer Frustrations and Escalating Concerns

Customers in Southern California described the outage as “unprofessional” and “unacceptable,” with many struggling to reach emergency services or conduct daily activities. Jovan Jordan, a Verizon customer, told ABC7, I mean, not too happy, because they’re charging us prices this month, every month, and it’s costly. And they are saying they have no solution for why we don’t have no network. I mean, it’s been out all day. Another customer said, I walked to the nearest store here, and they told us there’s nothing they can do. They just closed the door in our face.”

Don’t fool yourself.

Verizon’s Response and Ongoing Investigations

Verizon has reported the incident to law enforcement but has not yet disclosed the specific locations where the cables were cut. A spokesperson added, We strongly urge anyone who witnesses these acts to report them immediately to local law enforcement.

I walked to the nearest store here, and they told us there's nothing they can do, one customer said. They're charging us x amount of money each month, and then they do this. It's unprofessional, unacceptable. Verizon has not provided details on the number of affected customers or the exact locations of the damaged cables, though the company said it expects full restoration by Sunday evening.

Broader Implications and Industry Warnings

Verizon’s statement underscored the potential risks, noting that acts of network theft and vandalism represent a direct threat to the safety and security of our communities. The company also highlighted the importance of connectivity for emergency services, stating that the outage cut off vital lifelines for our first responders and public safety officials.

We know how much people rely on Verizon and apologize for any inconvenience, a spokesperson said.