Tech Desk 
Sep 09, 2025
Microsoft's Azure cloud services are reportedly back online after undergoing a nearly two-day outage prompted by damaged undersea cables in the Red Sea.
The Azure cloud outage started early on Monday, leading to service issues across the Middle East and resulting in higher latency for users throughout the day.
By Saturday evening, Microsoft reported that it had successfully rerouted traffic through alternative network paths, restoring stability for its customers.
What caused Microsoft Azure outage?
Although the company did not elaborate on what severed the cables, it underlined the importance of such infrastructure for global internet connectivity.
It should be noted that subsea cables are essential for transmitting vast amounts of data between continents, but are an easy target of both accidental damage, like from ship anchors, and deliberate attacks.
This incident is one of many concerning the Red Sea. In 2024, Yemen's internationally recognised government accused the Houthi movement of intentionally cutting cables in the area, but Microsoft has not connected this recent outage to any specific group.
While services have been restored, Microsoft cautioned that undersea cable repairs can take time, adding that it will “continuously monitor, rebalance, and optimise routing to minimise customer impact” during this period.
