A fire broke out at Villaggio mall today, causing an evacuation this afternoon. Here’s the latest:
UPDATE | 3:25pm
MOI has tweeted that the building is being re-opened, but eye-witnesses say Gate 2 is still closed and there is flooding near the Topshop/Topman store.
الأمور تعود إلي طبيعتها في مجمع فيلاجيو والجهات المعنية تسمح بدخول الجمهور الي المجمع بعد التأكد من كافة إجراءات السلامة
UPDATE | 3:01pm
Though the fire has been brought under control, an employee at the mall said that he and his staff had been sent home to await further instructions, and that it is unclear whether Villaggio will re-open today. Anymore know more?
UPDATE | 2:56pm
According to the Ministry of Interior’s Arabic Twitter account, the fire was caused by an electrical issue with an air conditioning unit and has now been brought under control:
الدفاع المدني يًخلي مجمع فيلاجيو احترازيا بسبب التماس كهربائي بسيط في مكيف هواء في محل تجاري وقد تمت السيطرة عليه.
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Shoppers and staff have been evacuated from Villaggio mall this afternoon after a fire reportedly broke out in a clothing store there.
According to an employee, the fire originated at the men’s clothing store Topshop/Topman near Entrance 2, close to Carrefour.
He added that the evacuation appeared to proceed smoothly.
Just a few days ago, on April 1, Civil Defense conducted a fire drill at the mall, where 19 people died in a blaze last May, to test the alarm system.
Meanwhile, authorities have struggled to get a fire at the under-construction Sidra Medical and Research Center under control today.
Fires in Qatar become more common in the summer months as temperatures rise, increasing the likelihood of electrical shortages.
Are you at Villaggio? Thoughts?
Credit: Photo by Ren Wlasiuk
