Moeve employees and staff at other companies housed in its Madrid tower must now work remotely after a fire and explosion broke out on the 25th floor late Tuesday afternoon, 23 June 2026. More than 2,000 people were evacuated from the skyscraper, one of Spain’s tallest office buildings and one of four towers in Madrid’s major office complex. Moeve, formerly known as Cepsa, confirmed that its staff will work from home until further notice, while access to the building remains restricted. Firefighters brought the blaze under control within two hours. In a report published at 16:57:35 that day, Faro de Vigo quoted a witness saying, “We heard an explosion.”
The company’s internal communication said the explosion occurred around 17:00 in a technical room on the 25th floor. Emergency protocols were activated immediately, and firefighting teams on each floor guided personnel to emergency exits. The evacuation began at approximately 17:30 and proceeded smoothly, with those present reporting no major incidents. 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, said 1,800 of those evacuated were Moeve staff, while the rest worked for other firms in the tower. Some people were temporarily held in designated safety shelters inside the building, where they stayed in contact with rescue teams before being evacuated. Emergency services treated two workers for mild smoke inhalation and helped a passerby who suffered an anxiety attack. All were discharged at the scene.
The response involved two Samur ambulances and three fire trucks from Madrid’s municipal brigade. Five National Police vans also took part. Drones provided aerial imagery, while a Cóndor helicopter monitored the area from above. A Police Intervention Unit secured the perimeter, managing pedestrian traffic and helping keep the area safe during the operation.
The Moeve Tower, formerly known as Torre Encourage after its architect Norman Encourage, 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, particularly after recent high-profile events such as the theft of valuable collectibles from a specialty shop in Alcalá de Henares. That incident also drew a swift police response, as detailed in this report on a rare card heist in Madrid.
Spain’s office towers face strict fire safety regulations, with regular drills and technical inspections required by law. The rapid evacuation helped prevent serious injuries. Pontegadea, the real estate arm of one of Spain’s most prominent business figures, owns the tower. Authorities are still reviewing the cause of the explosion, and the incident has temporarily disrupted business operations for several major firms in the capital.
