Cairo data centre fire kills four, takes down Egypt's Internet

A fire at a major telecommunications hub in central Cairo killed four workers and injured at least 39 other people on Monday, severely disrupting phone, internet, and banking services across Egypt.

The blaze broke out on the seventh floor of Telecom Egypt’s Ramses Central building, one of the country’s most important data centres. Civil defence teams said it took six hours to contain the fire, which injured dozens, including firefighters due to smoke inhalation.

Initial investigations found an electrical short circuit as the likely cause, according to a security source cited by Egypt’s state news agency.

The fire damaged critical infrastructure, leading to widespread service outages. Internet monitoring group NetBlocks initially reported national connectivity had dropped to 62 percent of normal levels, falling further to just 44 percent at the peak of the disruption. Digital banking, mobile payments, and government services were affected.

On Tuesday morning, the Ministry of Telecommunications said services were being rerouted through alternative hubs and would be gradually restored within 24 hours. However, disruptions to internet access and phone connectivity persisted in Cairo and parts of neighbouring Giza.