A method for localising a cable fault of a laid cable, comprising the following steps: - impressing a current impulse on the laid cable so that a magnetic field is induced and a cable flashover occurs, - externally determining a first orthogonal magnetic field information at a first measuring position, wherein the first orthogonal magnetic field information comprises a phase position of a magnetic field measured by means of magnetic field sensors, - ascertaining a cable direction or cable position by means of the magnetic field information, - determining an acoustic signal of the cable fault flashover at the first measuring position, - ascertaining a first time difference between the detection of the first orthogonal magnetic field information and the detection of the acoustic signal at the first measuring position, - changing the measuring position, so that a second measuring position is assumed, and impressing a current impulse, so that a magnetic field is induced and a flashover occurs, - externally determining a second orthogonal measuring position, wherein the second magnetic field information comprises a phase position of a magnetic field measured by means of two orthogonal magnetic field sensors, - determining an acoustic signal of the cable fault flashover resulting from impressing the current impulse at the second measuring position, - ascertaining a second time difference between the detection of the second orthogonal magnetic field information and the detection of the acoustic signal at the second measuring position, and - ascertaining a cable direction as well as ascertaining a fault direction by comparing the first time difference to the second time difference. - impressing a current impulse on the laid cable so that a magnetic field is induced and a cable flashover occurs, - externally determining a first orthogonal magnetic field information at a first measuring position, wherein the first orthogonal magnetic field information comprises a phase position of a magnetic field measured by means of magnetic field sensors, - ascertaining a cable direction or cable position by means of the magnetic field information, - determining an acoustic signal of the cable fault flashover at the first measuring position, - ascertaining a first time difference between the detection of the first orthogonal magnetic field information and the detection of the acoustic signal at the first measuring position, - changing the measuring position, so that a second measuring position is assumed, and impressing a current impulse, so that a magnetic field is induced and a flashover occurs, - externally determining a second orthogonal measuring position, wherein the second magnetic field information comprises a phase position of a magnetic field measured by means of two orthogonal magnetic field sensors, - determining an acoustic signal of the cable fault flashover resulting from impressing the current impulse at the second measuring position, - ascertaining a second time difference between the detection of the second orthogonal magnetic field information and the detection of the acoustic signal at the second measuring position, and - ascertaining a cable direction as well as ascertaining a fault direction by comparing the first time difference to the second time difference.