Frightening moments over the weekend in Cordoba, Spain, where on Friday evening, at around 9 p.m., a fire broke out at the Great Mosque, now the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, one of the most important monuments ofMoorish-Islamic art in all of Spain, as well as one of the largest cathedrals in the world, founded in 786, converted to a Christian church in 1523, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. Last year it was visited by two million people. The fire, which was quickly tamed by firefighters, broke out between the Baptistery Chapel and the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, in the area of the huge mosque dating back to theextension ordered by Almanzor, who was at the head of the Caliphate of Cordova in the 10th century, and who had the building enlarged between 976 and 1002 by having eight naves added, in what was the last, major expansion of the building. The flames then affected part of the roof of the Grand Mosque.
This is not the first time a fire has developed in the Grand Mosque of Cordova: there are two precedents, one in 1910 and one in 2001. This time the damage has been contained: according to the dean of the Mosque-Cathedral, Joaquín Alberto Nieva, the area affected by the fire is about 50 square meters out of the total 13,000 square meters of the large monumental complex. There would also be no structural damage. So much so that as early as Saturday, the Grand Mosque opened to the public again, except for the area affected by the flames, which was cordoned off. The flames, in fact, were already extinguished at midnight, although the City’s firefighting teams worked until dawn to secure the premises (the roof of one of the chapels had in fact collapsed due to the flames and the weight of water used to extinguish them). Forty firefighters were involved in the operations. During the work, one firefighter was “evacuated from the scene after suffering heat stroke from the efforts to extinguish the fire,” according to the City Council. It was precisely the rapid intervention of the fire department that averted the possibility of the fire turning into a catastrophe.
The Ministry of Culture has also activated the National Plan for the Management of Risks and Emergencies in Cultural Heritage “to ensure the protection, conservation and recovery of this unique asset, a symbol of Spain’s history and cultural identity,” as the Ministry stated. “The speed and professionalism of the firefighting teams,” the entity explained in a note, were “decisive in containing the fire at its origin and protecting both the architectural and artistic value of the Mosque-Cathedral and the safety of its urban environment.” For the mayor of Cordova, José María Bellido, who confirms that the monument is safe, the performance of the firefighters “was truly impressive, they risked their lives” and, thanks to their work, damage was not extensive.
The cause of the fire is currently being investigated. The temple’s bishop emeritus, Demetrio Fernández, said that “initial investigations suggest that it may have been caused by a failure of a cleaning machine located between the Baptistery Chapel and the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, both in the Almanzor area.” A short circuit, in short, would be at the origin of the fire.
Councillor for Culture and Sports of the Regional Government of Andalusia, Patricia del Pozo, this morning estimated the initial cost of repairing the damage to the Mosque following the fire at one million euros, and defended the “excellent management” that the City Council is carrying out with this monument. In statements made to Onda Cero radio, Del Pozo said he would not comment on the causes of the fire until the investigation is completed and a report is available, and he also deemed those who have already reported possible negligence “reckless.” “It is always necessary to wait for the results of the investigations carried out by professionals to know exactly what happened and, consequently, to express an opinion.” The assessor also stressed that the preservation of this site is “excellent” and is “continuously being updated.” “There are certain types of accidents that are often unavoidable. We will see when the results come out from the investigations. We have to be cautious and never compromise the management and preservation of this magnificent monument,” the councilor insisted, reiterating that self-protection plans have “worked perfectly.” In her view, the important thing now“ is the ”restoration phase,“ and she announced that the emergency intervention, cleaning and debris removal project will be approved as early as today and technicians will continue to work ”in a coordinated way.“ The Minister of Culture stressed that there is ”extraordinary“ coordination with both the City Council and the Church regarding the management of the Mosque-Cathedral and hopes that the estimated initial cost of the restoration project, which is about one million euros, can be assumed without ”any problem" by the Chapter.
UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay also expressed her gratitude to the firefighters and local authorities for their efforts in putting out the ’fire that devastated the Cordova Mosque-Cathedral. In particular, Azoulay stressed the cooperation of Spanish authorities to “ensure the preservation of this exceptional monument.”
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| Spain, fire at Great Mosque of Cordova: monument saved, damage contained |
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