A massive fire that broke out Monday at the 10-story Telecom Egypt building in downtown Cairo has left four employees dead and at least 27 others injured, according to Egyptian authorities.

The blaze, which originated in a hall housing telecom operator equipment, quickly spread to other floors, prompting a nationwide disruption of internet and mobile services.

The NetBlocks observatory reported that Egypt’s connectivity dropped to 62% of normal levels, affecting digital banking, mobile payments, and air traffic systems.

The Health Ministry confirmed that most injuries were due to smoke inhalation, with some victims treated on-site and others hospitalized. The four deceased were identified as Telecom Egypt staff members who were inside the building at the time of the fire.

Firefighters battled the flames for hours, and by Tuesday morning, the upper floors remained scorched as cooling operations continued. The Egyptian Stock Exchange suspended trading due to disruptions in the trading system’s efficiency.

Civil aviation authorities reported temporary flight delays but confirmed that all grounded flights had resumed by early Tuesday.

Communications Minister Amr Talaat stated that services were being rerouted through alternative switchboards and would be fully restored within 24 hours. An initial investigation suggests the fire may have been caused by an electrical short circuit.

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