A second fire broke out at the Ramses Exchange in Cairo, Egypt, just days after a larger inferno devastated the telecommunications hub and caused significant disruption to services, including internet and banking. The recent incident, reported by state media on Thursday, was swiftly contained and was notably smaller than the deadly fire on Monday which resulted in four fatalities and left many injured.
Fire Strikes Key Telecommunications Hub in Cairo Again
Fire Strikes Key Telecommunications Hub in Cairo Again
A new blaze at a Cairo telecommunications center raises alarms after a devastating fire killed four just days prior.
The Ramses Exchange, managed by state-owned Telecom Egypt, plays a pivotal role in managing communications infrastructure. Although officials have stated that services have largely resumed, many citizens reported ongoing issues with unreliable internet connections, particularly in the vicinity of the exchange. The first fire not only claimed lives but also created significant upheaval in urban life, plummeting internet connectivity to merely 40% of its typical capacity—according to monitoring group NetBlocks.
Moreover, the abrupt disruption extended beyond the digital domain. The stock exchange witnessed a temporary shutdown, banking operations were hampered, and travelers faced chaos at airports, where handwritten boarding passes became the norm for many due to computer failures. The response of the government has been to promise a comprehensive recovery plan that aims to restore full functionality to the telecommunications hub expediently.
The Ministry of Communications, addressing the initial fire, indicated that it stemmed from a floor hosting key telecommunications equipment. Initial firefighting efforts were insufficient, allowing the flames to spread uncontrollably. In light of the two consecutive incidents, prosecutors are now conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fires, as they navigate the critical implications on both safety and technological communication infrastructure in the region.
Moreover, the abrupt disruption extended beyond the digital domain. The stock exchange witnessed a temporary shutdown, banking operations were hampered, and travelers faced chaos at airports, where handwritten boarding passes became the norm for many due to computer failures. The response of the government has been to promise a comprehensive recovery plan that aims to restore full functionality to the telecommunications hub expediently.
The Ministry of Communications, addressing the initial fire, indicated that it stemmed from a floor hosting key telecommunications equipment. Initial firefighting efforts were insufficient, allowing the flames to spread uncontrollably. In light of the two consecutive incidents, prosecutors are now conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fires, as they navigate the critical implications on both safety and technological communication infrastructure in the region.
