Koder House, a key heritage landmark in Fort Kochi, was gutted in a major fire on Tuesday (September 29, 2026), triggering a panic situation in the beach town.

Originally built in 1808, the restored Indo-Portugese red-brick mansion on Tower Road, which is part of Kochi’s Jewish heritage, was functioning as a luxury boutique hotel.

The fire erupted on one of the top floors of the multi-storey building around 7 p.m. and soon spread to other areas. A major tragedy was averted as some guests and staff were evacuated from the building soon after the flames were spotted, according to Fire and Rescue Service sources.

The belongings of some guests were lost in the fire. Residents and visitors from nearby buildings were also moved to safety.

Strong coastal winds exacerbated the fire that consumed most of the colonial structure.

The blaze was brought under control by 9.30 p.m. in a coordinated operation involving firefighters from around 15 stations in Ernakulam and the Navy.

“No one has been injured in the accident. Luckily, nobody was trapped inside,” an officer with the Mattancherry fire station said, adding that it was yet to be ascertained what caused the fire. The officer said smoke continued to billow from the site as the building had wooden floors and roofing even after the blaze was extinguished. A preliminary assessment suggested that a short circuit could have triggered the blaze. The exact cause and extent of damage will be ascertained after a detailed inspection.

The officer said congested roads made the rescue mission difficult despite help from the police in managing traffic.

The Indian Navy, in a release said, it joined the firefighting efforts after receiving a request for assistance from the Kochi City police. Defence fire tenders from INS Dronacharya, INS Venduruthy, and INS Garuda were pressed into service, the Navy said. The Coast Guard also assisted in the operation.

Built as a Portuguese mansion, the building was bought and renovated by Samuel S. Koder, who belonged to a prominent Jewish family of Kochi and the Honorary Consul to the Netherlands, in 1905. The building remained with the Koder family until the third generation sold it.

The heritage building is known for its spacious sea-view rooms, wooden floors, and carved wooden furniture.