Communications were not be affected by the fire that gutted the telephone exchange building in Attaba in central Cairo, the Telecom Egypt board chairman said.

Mohamed Salem made the remark on Thursday while accompanying Telecommunications Minister Khaled Negm in his inspection tour of the fire scene.

Attaba telephone exchange building is a vital facility serving 50,000 subscribers, Salem said, noting that maintenance and repair works are expected to start within hours.

No casualties were reported from the blaze.

Investigations are underway into the cause of the fire.

Civil protection forces managed to contain the fire in a record time. More than 20 fire engines were sent to the fire scene.