(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - As a result of Friday's 7.5 earthquake, GCI lost both fiber optic connections to Wrangell. The damage affected most of GCI’s services to Wrangell including internet, cell phones and cable television.

The 141 m X 19 m cable laying vessel, Wave Venture
photographed in Ketchikan Wednesday.
Featured Photograph by KAREN HORN ©2013

GCI technicians had restored channels 1 through 8 and had restored cellular service by the following day; however, full video services have not yet been restored.

The Wave Venture, a cable layer ship, passed through Ketchikan on Wednesday heading to Wrangell waters to repair the damaged undersea fiber optic lines that are said to be causing Wrangell's video outage.

Friday, GCI reported the Wave Venture had located and retrieved half of the first cable, and work is underway to retrieve the other half.

According to GCI postings on FaceBook, as soon the damage can be physically seen, they will have a better idea of how long it will take to restore services. GCI reported their crews are working hard to restore full video services to Wrangell.

GCI did not have a firm estimate yesterday on how long it will take to get the remaining channels back in Wrangell, it could possibly be a matter of days. There are still a lot of unknowns that could affect how long it will take said GCI.

The Cable Ship Wave Venture, build in 1982, is owned by Global Marine Systems and sails under the United Kingdom flag.

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Follow the Wave Venture's Position

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Ketchikan, Alaska

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