Fire at transformer cuts power to Nasr El Nuba centre, Aswan

What happened

On the evening of Wednesday 14 October 2026, according to a report in Cairo 24, a fire broke out in an electricity transformer known as the Kharit transformer, in the Nasr El Nuba centre, Aswan Governorate, Egypt. It was the second fire at this transformer, and it cut the electricity supply to the whole centre. Fire engines attended the scene, contained the fire and prevented it spreading to neighbouring areas. The report said that developments were being followed to establish the cause and that power would be restored as quickly as possible. A report was being prepared and the investigating authorities had been notified.

Contributing factors

The cause has not been reported. The report notes that this was the second fire at the same transformer, but no cause or link to a specific fault has been established.

Lessons learned

1. Where a transformer has already been involved in a fire, operators should inspect and test it thoroughly before returning it to service, since a repeat event may indicate an unresolved fault.
2. Distribution networks serving whole communities need a restoration plan and temporary supply options, so that a single transformer fire does not leave a centre without power for long.
3. Fire response to transformer fires should include early isolation of the unit and containment measures to protect neighbouring equipment and buildings.

More lessons on maintenance, inspection and ageing assets, outages, backup supply and restoration, electrical protection and isolation, from every incident on the register.

Source

cairo24.com