From Cairo to the World: What Did the International Press Say About the Ramses Central Fire?

On July 7, 2025, a massive fire broke out at the Ramses Central building in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, drawing the attention of several major international news agencies, which covered the incident and its impact on telecommunications services in Egypt.

Reuters: Internet Connectivity Dropped by 38%

Reuters reported that the fire originated in the equipment room on the seventh floor of a building operated by Telecom Egypt in Ramses Square. The blaze resulted in injuries to 14 individuals, including members of emergency response teams.

The agency noted that the incident caused a significant drop in internet traffic across the country, with connectivity falling to approximately 62% of normal levels. Reuters added that initial investigations suggested an electrical short circuit as the likely cause of the fire.

Associated Press (AP): Temporary Disruption to Payment and Communication Services

According to the Associated Press, the fire impacted Egypt’s vital telecom infrastructure, causing temporary outages in electronic payment systems as well as fixed-line and mobile communications—particularly in Cairo and Giza.

The agency confirmed that all injured individuals were transferred to hospitals, and that services began to gradually resume within a few hours.

The National: 39 Reported Injuries

In its coverage, The National (UAE) cited local sources stating that the number of injuries had risen to 14, including 10 firefighters. The newspaper added that cooling operations continued for hours after the fire was brought under control.

It also highlighted that the building houses sensitive telecom equipment serving a wide geographic area.

Xinhua: Authorities Responded Swiftly

China’s Xinhua News Agency praised the rapid response of firefighting teams and noted that technical crews began working immediately to restore services for affected users.

Official Response to the Ramses Central Fire

In light of the global media attention, the Egyptian government moved quickly to reassure the public. Minister of Communications, Dr. Amr Talaat, visited the site of the fire, ordered compensation for affected users, and visited some of the injured at local hospitals.

Emergency Measures Taken:

• Power was cut off from the building to prevent further damage.

• Civil defense teams intervened promptly.

• A technical committee was formed to investigate the incident.

• Partial restoration of services occurred within hours.

Impact of the Ramses Fire on Internet Services

According to NetBlocks, an international organization monitoring internet disruptions, Egypt’s internet traffic dropped by around 38% as a result of the fire. Service gradually resumed the following day, with efforts ongoing to fully restore the affected servers.

The international media treated the Ramses Central fire as a major incident affecting Egypt’s digital infrastructure. Reports focused on the rapid government response, varying estimates of casualties, and the impact on telecommunications and internet services.

The incident served as a real stress test for Egypt’s digital resilience and drew global attention to the importance of securing critical infrastructure—both technically and humanly.