A fire broke out at the historic mosque-turned-cathedral in Córdoba, Spain, on Friday evening, but authorities confirmed the monument was saved after firefighters quickly contained the blaze. The incident occurred at approximately 9pm local time (8pm UK time), prompting fears for the early medieval architectural gem.
Mayor José María Bellido stated on Cadena television: 'The monument is saved. There will be no spread, it will not be a catastrophe.' The fire brigade earlier reported that the fire was under control but not yet extinguished. Videos shared widely on social media showed flames and smoke emanating from the site, which attracts around two million visitors annually.
Spanish newspaper ABC and other outlets reported that a mechanical sweeping machine caught fire on the premises, triggering the blaze. The fire evoked memories of the 2019 Notre Dame Cathedral fire in Paris, though the damage in Córdoba was far less severe.
The site, known as La Mezquita-Catedral, was originally built as a mosque between the 8th and 10th centuries under Muslim ruler Abd al-Rahman of the Umayyad dynasty. Following the Christian reconquest of Spain in the 13th century under King Ferdinand III of Castile, it was converted into a cathedral, with architectural modifications added over subsequent centuries.
