Renewed Fire at Ramses Central in Cairo Quickly Contained, Officials Say
A limited fire broke out Friday at the Ramses Central exchange building in downtown Cairo, reigniting concerns just days after a major blaze paralyzed one of Egypt's primary telecommunications hubs. Authorities confirmed the renewed fire was quickly extinguished and was a residual effect of Monday's catastrophic incident.
Firefighters responded promptly to the scene and brought the situation under control before the flames could cause further structural damage or disrupt newly restored services. No injuries have been reported.
According to officials, the fresh flare-up was sparked by smoldering debris left behind from the earlier fire, which burned for nearly 18 hours earlier this week. That initial blaze knocked the Ramses Central completely offline, disrupting fixed-line internet, landline, and mobile services, as well as financial transactions including ATMs and e-payments. Air travel and banking services also experienced temporary interruptions.
Following the shutdown, authorities redirected some telecom operations to the nearby Rod El Farag Central. While several services have resumed, the government said full network normalization is expected within hours.
The Ramses Central remains one of Egypt's most vital telecom infrastructures, and the recurrence of fire—however limited—has triggered fresh calls for comprehensive inspections and improved safety protocols.
A formal investigation into the cause of the initial fire and the delayed extinguishment is ongoing.
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