The Tokyo Metropolitan Fire Department phone lines were down due to an equipment malfunction for nine minutes between 11:23 a.m. and 11:32 a.m. in all 23 wards on Wednesday.

Department officials told a news conference following the incident that a system malfunction of unknown origin occurred at the command center in Chiyoda Ward, NTV reported Thursday.

Within the nine-minute period, there were 15 emergency calls which could not get through, and a number of people visited a fire station in Taito Ward to inquire about the system glitch.

Police and the fire department said that during the nine minutes, there were no fires or accidents requiring emergency medical services.

Fire department officials said that on Feb 25, the entire phone system was replaced for the first time in 12 years.

© Japan Today