InShort: Spanish mosque-cathedral reopens after fire

AFP :

A historic mosque-turned-cathedral in Cordoba in southern Spain reopened on Saturday, a day after a blaze that was quickly contained by firefighters, a spokesman for the site said.

Considered a jewel of Islamic architecture, the site opened at 10:00 am and will close at 7:00 pm its regular hours with only the area where the fire broke out cordoned off to the public, he told AFP.

The spectacular blaze broke out on Friday at about 9:00 pm, raising fears for the early medieval architectural gem and evoking memories of the 2019 fire that ravaged Notre Dame cathedral in Paris.

Widely shared videos had shown flames and smoke billowing from inside the major tourist attraction, visited by two million people per year.

Firefighters quickly contained the blaze and Cordoba’s mayor, Jose Maria Bellido, told Spanish media said the monument was “saved”.

Officials are expected to give an update on the extent of the damage later on Saturday.