A massive fire broke out on Monday at a major data centre belonging to Telecom Egypt (ETEL.CA) in Cairo, killing four workers and injuring at least 22 others, Egypt’s Health Ministry confirmed on Tuesday.
Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, spokesperson for the Health Ministry, told Reuters that most of the injuries resulted from smoke inhalation.
The blaze, which erupted at the Telecom Egypt facility, led to widespread disruptions in telecommunications and digital services across the Egyptian capital, according to Reuters.
State television reported that firefighters managed to contain the fire on Monday, preventing it from spreading to the entire building and nearby rooftops. However, the damage significantly impacted essential infrastructure.
The fire caused a halt in phone calls, internet access, and disrupted several digital banking services, including credit card transactions, ATM withdrawals, and online banking. Network monitoring group Netblocks revealed that Egypt’s national internet connectivity dropped to just 62% of normal levels during the incident.
Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Amr Talaat, announced on Tuesday that services would be gradually restored within 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry published alternative emergency numbers for ambulance services across various governorates due to potential difficulties reaching the main hotline.
Telecom Egypt issued a statement mourning the loss of its employees and pledging support to the victims’ families.
An initial investigation suggests that the blaze may have been sparked by an electrical short circuit, according to Egypt’s state news agency MENA, citing a security source.
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