Overview

• An electrical short in a street-sweeping machine ignited the fire inside the Mezquita-Cathedral late Friday.
• Firefighters contained the blaze in about ninety minutes and declared it fully extinguished by midnight.
• Mayor José María Bellido praised the rapid emergency response for saving the historic structure from greater harm.
• The Mezquita-Cathedral reopened to visitors at 10:00 a.m. Saturday with the eastern Almanzor Chapel still cordoned off.
• Preliminary inspections indicate localized, non-catastrophic damage and specialists are maintaining on-site monitoring to prevent any rekindling.