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A fire at the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba last night sent shockwaves through the city and far beyond, with messages of concern arriving from across the globe. The blaze, which broke out shortly after 9.15pm, was brought under control within an hour thanks to the swift action of firefighters, and officials have stressed the damage, while serious, is not catastrophic.

 

The alarm was raised when smoke and flames were spotted inside the monument, prompting Córdoba’s 112 emergency service to receive multiple calls. Videos shared on social media showed a large column of smoke rising from the site, a UNESCO World Heritage monument visited by around two million people each year.

 

Mayor José María Bellido confirmed that the fire started when an electric sweeper caught alight in the Almanzor extension, between the Baptistery Chapel and the Chapel of the Holy Spirit. The area, used to store cleaning equipment and chairs, is part of the 11th-century addition to the original mosque. Flames spread quickly, reaching more than seven metres high and damaging the roofs of two chapels, one of which partially collapsed. Some of the famous arches and plasterwork in the extension were also affected.

 

Fire crews familiar with the building’s self-protection plan, which is practised in annual drills, tackled the blaze from inside the monument, from the street, and from its roofs. Their aim was to extinguish the flames while avoiding flooding that could have caused further heritage damage. Local police secured the site and blocked public access, while firefighters worked to contain the fire to a small section of the building.

 

By about 11pm, officials confirmed there were no active flames and the situation was under control. The fire was declared fully extinguished at around 12.15am on Saturday, with crews remaining on site overnight to monitor the area. “There is damage, but it will not be a catastrophe,” said Mayor Bellido. “It’s terrible to see damage to a World Heritage Site, but the monument is safe.” Bishop Emeritus of Córdoba Demetrio Fernández added, “We have had calls from all over the world. People are deeply concerned about what has happened.”

 

The Mosque-Cathedral, also known as La Mezquita, is considered one of the finest examples of Islamic architecture in Spain. It was originally built as a mosque between the 8th and 10th centuries by the Umayyad rulers, on the site of a former church. Following the Christian reconquest of Córdoba in the 13th century, it was converted into a cathedral, with further modifications over the centuries. The Cordoba Mosque-Cathedral has experienced two previous recorded fires in its history: 1910 and 2001.

 

While a detailed assessment of the damage will be carried out in daylight, both the mayor and the bishop have reassured the public that the historic monument remains secure, thanks to the decisive and coordinated emergency response.

 

 

Images: Bomberos Córdoba/Facebook