UPDATE | Aug. 17, 2012:

Civil Defense officials have said Villaggio will remain closed until its ventilation, fire alarm systems and safety measures are brought up to code, local media reports.

Residents who drove to the mall yesterday in hopes of shopping there were turned away, Al Sharq states.

Gulf Times reports:

Major Hussein Aman al-Ali, head of media and preventive education section at the Civil Defence Department (CDD), told local Arabic daily Al Sharq that as soon as the tests conducted by the mall’s management and the CDD are passed, a permit will be given for its reopening.

However, in case of failure of any tests conducted of the systems, the opening will be delayed until the issue is completely addressed, he said.

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Despite reports that Villaggio mall would reopen in time for Eid holidays, an official there reportedly said that’s not going to happen.

“No areas will be accessible to public before Eid,” spokeswoman Carol Sabbagha told the National today.

She told Doha News earlier that several parts of the mall were ready to open, but the shopping center is still awaiting clearance from Civil Defense officials.

Presumably, as government offices are now closed for the holidays, that clearance won’t be coming this weekend.

Some parts of the mall were being painted this morning, a shop manager told Doha News, adding that a September re-opening looked more likely. 

Meanwhile, parents of the 13 children who were killed in the May 28 fire continue to call for a boycott of the mall pending answers and justice.

Here’s a list of what else is going this Eid week.

Thoughts?

Credit: Photo by Omar Chatriwala