Residential, business and cellular telphone service — incuding 911 — was restored in the Kona area on Hawaii island some six hours after a cable line was severed on Wednesday.

Hawaiian Telcom said service was restored to all customers about 7:30 p.m.

The company said its landline telephone and Internet had been out of service from Waikoloa to Pahala — affecting approximately 20,000 phone and 5,500 Internet customers. Wireless carriers are also experiencing problems. 

Hawaiian Telcom said that alarms were triggered at its network operations center at about  1 p.m. indicating problems in Kona.

A fiber cable break had occurred on Mamalahoa Highway near the intersection to the Danield K. Inouye Highway, the company said. 

A contractor transporting a grader reportedly snagged and severed a 36-strand fiber cable.

Restoring service required placing more than 500 feet of cable and 72 individual splices, the company said 

Anyone requiring emergency services and unable to access 911, had been asked to go to the nearest police or fire station.