Latest news with #Bellido
The Sun
3 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Cordoba mosque-cathedral reopens after fire with minimal damage
CÓRDOBA: A fire at the historic mosque-cathedral in Cordoba caused only minor damage, allowing the site to reopen quickly. The blaze broke out on Friday evening, sparking fears for the UNESCO-listed architectural gem. Videos showed flames and smoke rising from the building, a major tourist attraction drawing two million visitors yearly. Cordoba mayor Jose Maria Bellido confirmed the damage was 'very, very localised' during a press briefing. The fire mainly affected one chapel, where the roof collapsed due to flames and water used to extinguish them. Two nearby chapels suffered smoke damage to altarpieces and artworks, according to officials. Bellido estimated only 50 to 60 square metres of the vast structure were impacted by the fire. 'Fortunately yesterday a catastrophe was avoided that could have meant losing the entire mosque-cathedral,' he said. Firefighters and police remained on-site Saturday as curious onlookers gathered nearby. The damaged Almanzor nave section was blocked off with barriers for safety. Thirty-five firefighters worked overnight to cool the walls after extinguishing the flames. Daniel Munoz, head of Cordoba's fire service, credited annual drills for the swift response. 'That allowed them to know all the entrances, the hallways, where they could hook up their hoses,' he explained. Forensic teams are investigating the cause, with reports suggesting a mechanical sweeper may have ignited. Originally built as a mosque in the 8th century, the site was converted into a cathedral after the Christian reconquest. UNESCO recognised the structure as a World Heritage Site in 1984 for its unique blend of Eastern and Western architecture. - AFP
Ya Biladi
3 days ago
- General
- Ya Biladi
Fire at Cordoba's historic Mosque-Cathedral, icon of Andalusian heritage
A fire broke out on Friday, August 8, inside the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, alarming passersby near the historic site. The blaze was quickly brought under control thanks to the intervention of three firefighting teams who promptly arrived to contain the flames, according to the mayor of the Andalusian city, José María Bellido, as reported by Spanish media. «There will be damage, but it will not reach the level of a disaster», Bellido assured, calling for «calm and tranquility». The fire started at around 9:15 p.m. in one of the chapels in the Arcades of Al-Mansur, which was being used as a storage area for cleaning equipment typically used inside the mosque, whose origins date back to the 8th century AD. ?Vendredi soir, un #incendie s'est déclaré à la mosquée-cathédrale de #Cordoue?? (la Mezquita de Córdoba), classée à l' #Unesco. Les pompiers l'ont rapidement maîtrisé. — (@yabiladi_fr) August 9, 2025 According to EFE news agency, the blaze was sparked by the battery of a mechanical cleaning machine, likely due to an electrical fault. The flames quickly spread within the UNESCO World Heritage site, reaching parts of its rooftops. Bellido noted that he had received «messages from all over the world» expressing solidarity, a testament to the mosque-cathedral's historical and cultural importance. This is the third fire in the monument's history, following previous incidents in 1910 and 2001. Built in 785 AD by order of the Umayyad ruler Abd al-Rahman I, the mosque was converted into a cathedral in 1236 after the fall of Al-Andalus to the Kingdom of Castile.
Al Etihad
4 days ago
- General
- Al Etihad
Fire at Córdoba's historic cathedral successfully contained
MADRID (dpa) A fire broke out on Friday in the historic cathedral in the southern Spanish city of Córdoba, but the structure was later declared "safe," local authorities said. The building, officially the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, is referred to locally as "La Mezquita," Spanish for "the mosque", as the building was once the Great Mosque of Córdoba. Córdoba Mayor José María Bellido told local broadcaster Cadena SER late on Friday that the fire had been contained. "The monument is safe. There are no live flames. It will not be a catastrophe," Bellido said. The fire was extinguished at 10:30pm (2030 GMT), newspaper El Pais reported, citing police. The interior of the cathedral (FILE PHOTO) Córdoba was once the capital of Moorish Spain, and the building was once the largest and most impressive mosque in Europe. It became a cathedral in the 13th century and was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984.
