Some residents of the Pearl-Qatar are being temporarily moved out of their homes tonight over fears of a potential crane collapse.
Certain roads are also being closed and traffic has been rerouted as a safety precaution, a spokesman for United Development Company (UDC), which manages the island, told Doha News.
A letter sent to Pearl residents today explains that safety authorities have identified a technical fault in a crane opposite Parcel 3 at the Pearl, in Porto Arabia.
The crane, which was identified as unsafe yesterday, is now being dismantled, a process that is expected to take several days, the spokesman, Mohamed Al Fatih, said.
Detour
Residents were informed today that parts of Porto Arabia Drive had been closed “to reduce the safety risk that might arise from crane repair.”
They were told that the roads – which access towers and townhouses between Marina Way 5-1 – would be closed until 5.30pm today “at a minimum.” The road remains closed now, at 9:30pm.
The closures have caused considerable disruption.
Avoid the #Pearl today. Real chaos since they decided to dismantle a crane in a week end ! #clever so all … http://t.co/uiQc0extXt
— Mazen Abd Rabbo (@MAbdRabbo)
Towers 1-4 closed @ the Pearl. Told that a crane is “about to fall down”! Not allowed to park but towers haven’t been evacuated. @dohanews
— Claire Connor (@Claire_Connor)
An alternative route has been established for residents to access their homes.
As a further precaution, residents living in apartments nearest to the crane have been moved to furnished apartments elsewhere on the Pearl, Al Fatih said.
He added that the company would bear the cost of moving their furniture and belongings to the new apartment if they wished to move them.
Here’s the letter that was sent to residents:
Have you been affected? Thoughts?
Credit: Photo by Brian Candy
