On Monday evening (July 7), a sudden fire broke out in a telecommunications building in the capital city of Cairo, Egypt, causing a widespread disruption of mobile communication and internet services throughout the city. Some flights were delayed, and at least 22 people were injured as a result. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation.
Reports from various media outlets indicate that the ten-story building is located in the Ramses area in the heart of Cairo, belonging to Telecom Egypt, a critical telecommunications data center.
When emergency rescue teams arrived at the scene, the fire was raging intensely, with thick smoke billowing from the top of the building. Firefighters set up multiple aerial ladders to try to control the blaze, while security personnel sealed off several surrounding streets.
The Egyptian Ministry of Health stated in a release that most of the injured suffered from smoke inhalation and were promptly taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority announced that some flights faced delays on Tuesday morning, but emergency measures have been activated to ensure all flights can take off smoothly without cancellations.
Local media reports suggest that a preliminary investigation indicates the accident may have been caused by a short circuit, with forensic experts collecting evidence at the scene to determine the exact cause of the fire.
Due to the fire, issues such as the inability to make phone calls and internet disruptions have been reported in various areas of Cairo. Additionally, certain financial services nationwide have been affected, including credit card transactions, ATM operations, and online transfers. According to data from the global internet observatory Netblocks, Egypt’s national internet access rate has dropped to 62% of its normal level.
Both Telecom Egypt and the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority confirmed in statements that the point of origin of the fire was in an equipment room on the seventh floor. As a precautionary measure, authorities temporarily cut off power to the entire telecommunications building.
The Egyptian Ministry of Health has issued temporary emergency medical hotline numbers in multiple districts to ensure that emergency services are not disrupted.
The National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Egypt stated that services will gradually be restored over the next few hours. Additionally, they are currently compiling data on the affected services and customers to accurately assess the extent of the losses.
According to a statement from the office of the Governor of Cairo, firefighters have successfully contained the fire within the building, and are currently cooling down the structure.