More than 2,000 people were evacuated from the Moeve Tower in Madrid after a fire broke out on the 25th floor. The company has now ordered remote work for all staff. Emergency services responded quickly, with no serious injuries reported.
Remote work has become mandatory for all employees of Moeve and other companies housed in the Moeve Tower in Madrid, following a fire and explosion that erupted on the 25th floor late Tuesday afternoon. The incident led to the evacuation of over 2,000 people from the skyscraper, which stands as one of the tallest office buildings in Spain. Moeve, formerly known as Cepsa, confirmed that staff will continue working from home until further notice, as access to the building remains restricted despite the fire being brought under control within two hours.
According to the company’s internal communication, the explosion occurred around 17:00 in a technical room on the 25th floor. Emergency protocols were immediately activated, with anti-fire teams on each floor guiding personnel to emergency exits. The evacuation, which began at approximately 17:30, proceeded smoothly, with no major incidents reported by those present at the time. While most of the 2,000 evacuees were Moeve employees, the building also houses offices for companies such as Amazon and Gomez Acebo & Pombo.
Enrique Rodríguez, Moeve’s Director of External Communication and Reputation, stated that 1,800 of those evacuated were Moeve staff, while the remainder belonged to other firms in the tower. Some individuals were temporarily confined in designated safety shelters within the building but remained in contact with rescue teams and were safely evacuated. Emergency services treated two workers for mild smoke inhalation and assisted a passerby who suffered an anxiety attack; all were discharged at the scene.
The response involved two Samur ambulances, three fire trucks from Madrid’s municipal brigade, and five National Police vans. Drones provided aerial imagery, while a Cóndor helicopter monitored the area from above. A Police Intervention Unit secured the perimeter to manage pedestrian traffic and ensure safety during the operation.
The Moeve Tower, previously known as Torre Foster after its architect Norman Foster, was acquired by Amancio Ortega’s Pontegadea in 2016 for €490 million. The 49-story building is a prominent feature of Madrid’s skyline, second in height only to the nearby Torre de Cristal. The incident comes amid heightened attention to security and emergency protocols in major Spanish cities, especially following recent high-profile events such as the theft of valuable collectibles from a specialty shop in Alcalá de Henares, which also prompted a swift police response, as detailed in this report on a rare card heist in Madrid.
Spain’s office towers are subject to strict fire safety regulations, with regular drills and technical inspections mandated by law. The Moeve Tower incident underscores the importance of these measures, as the rapid and coordinated evacuation helped prevent serious injuries. The building’s ownership by Pontegadea, the real estate arm of one of Spain’s most prominent business figures, further highlights the significance of maintaining high safety standards in landmark properties. While the cause of the explosion is still under review, the event has temporarily disrupted business operations for several major firms in the capital.
