Madrid's Torre Moeve evacuated after fire, emergency crews search for three people inside
Smoke and flames on the upper floors of the 248-metre Torre Moeve, Spain's second tallest skyscraper, prompted a full evacuation at around 17:05 on Tuesday. Emergency services are looking for three people believed to be still inside.
Fire breaks out
A fire broke out on an upper floor of the Torre Moeve in Madrid's Cuatro Torres business district just after 17:00 on Tuesday. A column of smoke was visible across the capital, and witnesses reported seeing flames and hearing a small explosion. The exact floor of origin remains unclear; first responders received calls mentioning the 16th floor, while other sources say flames appeared on the 20th floor of the 49-storey tower.
Emergency response
Madrid's municipal fire brigade was quickly dispatched to the scene. The building was evacuated without major complications, according to early reports from La Razón. Police confirmed that emergency teams are searching for three people who were confined inside. No injuries have been confirmed so far, though several citizens called emergency services after spotting the smoke and sharing videos on social media.
The building
Torre Moeve, formerly known as Torre Foster, was designed by architect Norman Foster and completed in 2009. At 248 metres, it is the second highest skyscraper in Madrid and in Spain, surpassed only by the neighbouring Torre de Cristal. The tower is part of the Cuatro Torres complex on Paseo de la Castellana.
Previous incident
This is not the first fire at the tower. A smaller blaze, caused by an electrical transformer, forced an evacuation and power cut in mid-December. That earlier incident was brought under control without casualties.
Search under way
Emergency crews are still working to locate the three individuals reported to be inside. The cause of Tuesday's fire has not yet been determined.
