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Telus is estimating its internet, TV and phone services will be restored to northwest B.C. by late Monday afternoon after vandals attempted to steal some of the company’s copper cables.

In an email, a spokesperson said those responsible were attempting to steal the cables in the area of Sheraton, B.C., about 20 kilometres east of Burns Lake.

In the process, the vandals cut through fibre lines, leading to the failure of services including internet, cellphone text and calls, home phones and 911 landlines.

People have been impacted from Burns Lake to Haida Gwaii, including businesses that rely on internet for payment and other services.

Telus said it has activated emergency roaming service through another carrier so cellphone customer can remain connected.

In a statement posted online, Northern Health said the outage may be causing “a loss of phone and internet services for local health facilities, and limited or no ability to reach 9-1-1 in some communities, ” but that health centres and hospitals remain open.