Egypt Daily News – A devastating fire that broke out Monday at the historic Ramses Central Exchange in downtown Cairo has left four people dead and at least 27 injured, according to Egypt’s Ministry of Health. The blaze, which began on the seventh floor of the building, caused significant disruptions to communication networks and public services across the capital and beyond.
Emergency services rushed to the scene as thick black smoke billowed from the upper floors, visible from kilometers away. Civil defense teams worked through the night and into Tuesday morning to fully contain the fire, which had spread to adjacent floors due to its intensity. Five fire engines and 17 ambulances were deployed as authorities struggled to bring the situation under control.
Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, confirmed that 27 individuals were taken to nearby hospitals, including Coptic Hospital, Health Insurance Hospital, Al-Munira General, Demerdash University Hospital, and the Red Crescent Hospital. Most injuries were due to smoke inhalation and first-degree burns, many of which were reported as mild. Several victims were treated at the scene without requiring hospitalization.
Tragically, four employees of Telecom Egypt lost their lives in the incident. The Ministry of Health stressed its ongoing commitment to providing full medical support to those affected and confirmed that many injured individuals are in stable condition, with some expected to be discharged soon.
In response to the incident, Minister of Health and Population Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar activated the central emergency operations room at the ministry’s headquarters, which has been coordinating around the clock with provincial health departments.
Telecommunications services were severely affected nationwide. The National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority confirmed disruptions in both landline and mobile services, including data transmission. Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dr. Amr Talaat, who visited the site on Tuesday morning, announced that services had begun to return gradually and would be fully restored within 24 hours. He emphasized that Egypt’s telecom infrastructure is not solely dependent on the Ramses exchange, and that traffic has been rerouted through other central offices.
Dr. Talaat also inspected the damage and reviewed contingency measures implemented to maintain service continuity. He noted that while essential services such as emergency hotlines, airports, and utilities remained largely functional, isolated outages were reported in certain governorates and were being addressed.
The fire reportedly originated in a hall designated for telecom operators and quickly spread, fueled by the density of electronic equipment. Although the building was equipped with automatic fire suppression systems, the fire’s strength hindered initial efforts to extinguish it swiftly.
The Ministry of Communications also confirmed that critical hotlines, such as 123 for ambulance services and 137 for urgent medical care have been restored, with alternate numbers available through the ministry’s social media platforms in case of service interruption. Over 500 urgent medical calls were logged, along with nearly 50,000 calls to emergency services in the past few hours, figures consistent with daily averages.
The Ramses Central Exchange, inaugurated in 1927 by King Fuad I, is a cornerstone of Egypt’s telecommunications infrastructure. As the main hub for internet and fixed-line communications across much of the country, its temporary shutdown prompted concern about service resilience.
While full investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the fire, officials continue to monitor the site and assess long-term damage. The government reiterated its commitment to supporting the affected families and ensuring infrastructure recovery as swiftly as possible.
