A fire reflared on Thursday evening at the Ramses Central telecoms building in downtown Cairo, just four days after a blaze there claimed the lives of four workers and injured dozens.
Civil defence teams were sent immediately to the scene after reports of smoke and flames coming from the back of the complex, officials told The National.
The renewed fire started on the roof of a smaller six-storey building that is part of the centre complex, the officials said.
The flare-up was attributed by to "hot spots", or residual heat from the initial blaze, despite the cooling work that had been under way since Monday night.
The officials said large fires often leave behind unseen damage, such as weakened cable insulation, carbon deposits on wires or hidden water seeping into sensitive equipment such as power supplies and fibre racks.
Seven fire lorries and rescue teams rushed to the site to contain the flames and prevent them from spreading to adjacent structures.
Authorities confirmed that the fire was limited in scope and has been sequestered to one area, and firefighters are working on putting it out. No more casualties have been reported.
The fire on July 7 caused widespread disruptions to internet and phone services across Cairo and parts of Giza. Officials warned that minor flare-ups could occur.
Shortly after the fire reignited, reports surfaced on social media about disruptions to ATMs belonging to the National Bank of Egypt.
But the Telecommunications Ministry clarified that the renewed fire did not cause significant damage or service interruptions. Most telecoms and banking services had already been restored after the initial blaze.
Earlier on Thursday, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi ordered the Ministry of Social Solidarity to pay compensation for the victims of the first Ramses Central fire.
The families of the killed Telecom Egypt workers will each receive 1.1 million Egyptian pounds ($22,000), while injured employees will receive 175,000 pounds.
Telecom Egypt, the state-owned company that operates Central Ramses, will also contribute 1 million pounds to each victim's family and 150,000 pounds to each injured worker.
Victims also received calls of consolation from Entissar Amer, Mr El Sisi's wife.
The incident brought renewed public concern over safety measures at critical infrastructure sites.
The Ramses Central building, built in 1927, remains a critical centre for Egypt’s telecommunications network, managing about 40 per cent of the country’s traffic.
The initial fire severely damaged its operations, but alternative centres were activated to ensure services continued, although some areas remain affected.
Authorities are continuing their investigations into the causes of both fires.
While preliminary findings suggest that a short-circuit started the first blaze, further analysis is under way to determine whether other factors contributed.
Emergency teams remain at the site to monitor conditions and prevent further flare-ups.
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Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Healthy tips to remember
Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:
Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast
Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits
Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day
Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet
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How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
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THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
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