The images increased the fears of a disaster similar to Notre-Dame de Paris, but the Cordoue-Catedral Mosque, an Andalusian art jewel in southern Spain, escaped from the worst after a seemingly accidental fire that broke on Friday night before being rapidly extinguished.
“The monument is saved!” The mayor of the city, José María Bellido, in Cadena Ser, launched, ensuring that a “disaster” has been avoided thanks to the efficiency of firefighters. The disaster was declared around 9:00 pm local schedule (7:00 pm GMT) in this millenary building in particular for its marble column forest.
The videos published on social networks have shown orange and smoke flames that escape the high walls of the monument, especially on the door of San José (on the southern side of the mosque), which gives access to the interior and the famous orange patio.
Built as a mosque by Emirs and Omeyyad Caliphs between the VIII and X centuries, the building was consecrated cathedral after the Christian reconquest in 1236, and Catholic elements were added, including a large central chapel in the 16th century.
Classified as World Heritage for UNESCO in 1984, the Cathedral of the Mosque of Córdoba welcomed more than 2 million visitors in 2024 according to its website.
“Firefighters acted so fast”
The fire was declared extinguished by Mr. Bellido shortly after midnight (10:00 pm GMT). The elected official praised “the rapid and magnificent intervention of the Firefighters of Córdoba.” “The Firefighters acted so fast and so effectively that they verified the fire,” they also delighted Bishop Emeritus of Córdoba, Mgr Demetrio Fernández.
“The situation is under control thanks to God and firefighters,” he concluded. Mr. Bellido said that the Fire teams and the Local Police would remain in the place during the night to “avoid any risk” of the new start of fire.
According to the first elements of the investigation, the fire exploded in the central chapel, located in the Almanzor area called SO, before stretching part of the vault coverage, but without going further. The precise scope of the damage has not been established at this stage.
The management of the Mosque-Catedral stored in this chapel, according to the mayor, the cleaning team and the audiovisual equipment, which may have been the source of the disaster. “It seems that it could be a battery or electrical contact that would have produced a first spark,” he explained.
Several Spanish media mentioned a sweetener machine that would have burned. The construction of the building began in the seventh century under the emirate of Abd al-Rahman I at the site of a Christian Basilica. It was extended in several phases for the next four centuries. The expansion of Almanzor (to the mansur) dates from the end of the 10th century.
In 2001, a small fire had already damaged the monument, and in particular twenty -five old documents maintained in the archives of the councils of the Cathedral.
Source: BFM TV
