Egypt Daily News – The Egyptian government has announced compensation of 1.1 million Egyptian pounds (approx. $23,000 USD) for the families of each of the four victims who died in the Ramses Central Exchange fire earlier this week in downtown Cairo. The blaze, which broke out on Monday, also left 27 people injured.
In a joint statement on Thursday, the Ministers of Communications and Social Solidarity confirmed that each injured individual will receive 175,000 EGP in compensation. The payments are intended to support victims and their families as investigations into the cause of the fire continue.
Fire at a Critical Telecom Hub
The fire erupted inside a hall on one of the building’s upper floors that housed facilities used by multiple telecom operators. It then spread to additional floors, according to the Ministry of Communications. The building, Ramses Central, is a key telecommunications hub and plays a central role in Egypt’s internet infrastructure, especially for Cairo and other major cities.
The Ministry of Health reported that emergency responders treated dozens of people for smoke inhalation at the scene, while 27 were transported to nearby hospitals, including Coptic, Sayyidnaoui, El-Monira, Helal, and Demerdash University Hospitals.
Four bodies were recovered from the building by Civil Defense teams.
Telecom Services Restored
Communications Minister Dr. Amr Talaat said on Thursday that telecom services were being gradually restored and that contingency plans had already been activated.
“All services have been rerouted to alternate central exchanges as part of a backup network. Ramses Central is not our only hub,” he clarified.
He also confirmed that the equipment halls of Telecom Egypt—the national telecom provider—were protected by automated fire suppression systems, which likely prevented more extensive damage.
Investigation Underway
While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, the scale of the damage has raised concerns about infrastructure safety in key national facilities.
Ramses Central, located in the heart of Cairo’s Ramses Street, is one of the largest and most vital communications centers in Egypt. It serves as a major hub for internet and phone services across many governorates.
Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of technical faults or electrical issues sparking the fire, though no official cause has yet been released.
