With reporting from Reem Saad and Aparajita Mukherjee
Updated at 7:45pm on July 20 with comments from Tawar’s chairman
Firefighters in Qatar have been battling a blaze that broke out at an upcoming mall in Al Duhail this morning.
According to the Ministry of Interior, the fire has been subdued and there are no reported injuries:
Civil Defence contains a fire at an under-construction shopping complex near Dahl Al-Hamam. No casualties. #MoI_Qatar.
— Ministry of Interior (@MOI_QatarEn) July 20, 2016
The site was evacuated as emergency responders took to the scene.
Hundreds of construction workers could be observed waiting at Dahl Al Hammam Park, across the street from the mall.
December launch
The fire at Tawar Mall comes months ahead of its year-end opening.
It is unclear what caused it, though blazes are common during the hot months in Qatar.
Speaking to Doha News, Tawar Mall Chairman Jassim Tawar Al-Kuwari said the fire originated from a piece of insulation on the roof of the building, but added that he was unsure what started it.
When asked about the possibility of the fire being set to commit insurance fraud, he laughed and said, “No no no. That is not this case.”
The shopping center is located down the road from Landmark Mall, and smoke from the blaze could be seen in nearby Madinat Khalifa:
Fire by madinat Khalifa / city side of Sidra? @dohanews @iloveqatar pic.twitter.com/GjCjsuG3fs
— Brooke (@Brookster81) July 20, 2016
What's happening?? @dohanews @qatarliving #qatar pic.twitter.com/it8Z1Gntbi
— Haris Aghadi (@haghadi) July 20, 2016
When it opens, Tawar will have 300 shops and restaurants, including an indoor souq, an entertainment area designed like a giant toy factory and Qatar’s first Spar supermarket.
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