A large fire broke out on Monday at a critical telecommunications facility in central Cairo, triggering widespread disruptions to phone and internet services, according to officials.
The fire erupted on the seventh floor of the historic 10-storey Ramses telephone exchange building, a key hub in Egypt’s communications network. Thick plumes of black smoke were seen rising from the area, and videos circulating on social media showed smoke pouring from the building’s upper floors, visible from afar.
Authorities confirmed that 14 people sustained injuries in the blaze, as reported by Egypt’s Ministry of Health.
Firefighters were swiftly deployed to tackle the flames, and state television later confirmed that the fire had been brought under control. However, the damage caused led to power cuts in parts of the downtown area, Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber said.
The state-owned newspaper Al-Ahram reported that the incident caused phone and internet disruptions across large parts of the capital. The Ministry of Civil Aviation also noted that temporary delays affected several flights at Cairo International Airport due to the loss of communication services.
The Ramses exchange serves as a central node for Egypt’s telecommunications infrastructure, making the incident particularly disruptive to the capital’s connectivity.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is expected to follow.
