At least 22 people were injured after a fire broke out on Monday in a key telecom data centre in Cairo, the spokesperson for Egypt’s health ministry told Reuters, as disruptions of communications across the capital were recorded.
A state TV reporter said it had been contained.
People were unable to make phone calls and a major internet disruption was registered after the fire erupted in the building in central Cairo, with internet monitoring group Netblocks saying network data showed national connectivity at 62% of ordinary levels.
The health ministry posted alternative numbers for ambulance services across different governorates in case people were unable to reach its main hotline.
Besides phone calls, some digital banking services were also impacted, including credit cards, ATM machines and online transactions, a bank source and residents said. Banks had been closed for the day.