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dohanews:

A fire broke out at the Villaggio Mall around 11am this morning, according to witnesses. Details are still coming out, and the extent of the damage is still unclear. Here is the latest we have on the blaze.

UPDATE | 8:02pm:

The press conference is over. No mall representatives were present to answer any questions, but officials have said that firefighters’ efforts were initially thwarted by the heavy smoke and heat.

They also said that rescue teams initially did not know that those trapped inside the mall were children. Additionally, a lack of clear floor plans, visible emergency exits and a false alarm from the day before inhibited efforts to save those inside.

For a good recap of the conference, also see ILoveQatar.net’s Q&A.

UPDATE | 7:41pm:

Officials say no list of casualties will be offered as “there is no added value,” but that nationalities of those killed included “Europeans, Japanese, Spanish and others.” We’ve also seen reports that a South African child was amongst the dead.

When Al Jazeera English reporter Stefanie Dekker asked if it was true that alarms and sprinklers didn’t work in the mall, the response was that some malfunctioned, and the cause of that is being investigated.

As for how long Villaggio Mall will be closed, Doha News was told that they still don’t know, as damages and reasons behind the fire are still being investigated.

UPDATE | 7:26pm:

A little more detail on the deaths. Of the 13 children killed, seven were girls and six were boys. 

The fire reportedly started in Gympanzee, the children’s nursery at the mall, but isn’t clear what set it off.

Ambulances reportedly arrived at the scene in only eight minutes, and some 180 emergency workers were deployed to deal with the fire.

Also, there were 17 people injured, mostly emergency workers.

UPDATE | 7:16pm:

The press conference started very late. It’s under way now.

The Minister of Health was just speaking in Arabic. We understand he said 13 children were killed in the fire today, along with 4 teachers and two Civil Defense workers. That’s a total of 19 deaths.

UPDATE | 5:36pm:

We’re at National Central Command waiting for the Ministry of Interior to share more details about what happened at Villaggio today.

Brian Candy was at the mall earlier today and share these images with us:

UPDATE | 4:24pm: As speculation about the death toll abounds, the Ministry of Interior has called a press conference for 6pm tonight:

Public will be updated on details of the press conference through our facebook and twitter pages.

— MOI, Qatar (@MOI_QatarEn) May 28, 2012

UPDATE | 3:51pm: We spoke with a mom whose child attends Gympanzee. She is at the hospital attending to children who were at Villaggio during the fire.

She said 12 children have been confirmed dead, though not all necessarily from Gympanzee. Parents who are looking for their kids should go to Hamad’s Women’s Hospital Emergency Room.

UPDATE | 3:33pm:

Still no details but it’s looking more likely that a number of people were either injured or killed in today’s fire at Villaggio.

The concerned authorities are taking toll of human casualties and material losses at Villaggio fire. All the details will be updated.

— MOI, Qatar (@MOI_QatarEn) May 28, 2012

Over the phone, both the police and fire departments sounded quite chaotic, and when asked about deaths, Doha News was told simply: “We don’t know yet.”

UPDATE | 2:56pm:

Details about the cause of the fire, the damage, and number of casualties are still sketchy. The Ministry of Interior says they will elaborate this evening:

A press conference is being convened today evening to explain about the human casualties, other losses and causes of fire at Villaggio.

— MOI, Qatar (@MOI_QatarEn) May 28, 2012

At least two photos have started circulating on Twitter that people claim depict deaths from the fire. Hamad Medical Corporation says they cannot comment at the moment, but will release a statement later.

UPDATE | 2:27pm:

Witnesses standing outside the mall say it hasn’t been completely evacuated, and that people are still being brought out of the building.

@QatarToday an here too. Yes ppl still inside.

— vani saraswathi (@vanish_forever) May 28, 2012

All these being brought out now seem to be cops or security guards. #VillaggioFire not the end of it.

— vani saraswathi (@vanish_forever) May 28, 2012

Smoke outside the building, meanwhile, is apparently dissipating. 

UPDATE | 1:56pm:

Although the fire has apparently been quelled, still not a good idea to head to the Villaggio area. Police detours and traffic jams are reported on Al Waab Street.

@dohanews RT @DohaBen: @katiebakesx there’s a road block at the torch lights and ambulances are still going to the scene.

— glen coco (@katiebakesx) May 28, 2012

Rumors also abound on Twitter that varying numbers of people were killed in the fire. Officials have so far said this is untrue.

UPDATE | 1:25pm:

Qatar’s Ministry of Interior is reporting that the fire has now been contained. In a post on Facebook at 1:21pm, it said:

Fire has been controlled initially. Firefighters and other concerned security persons are trying to remove smoke and cool the place. Cooperate with Police to convey only the facts.

UPDATE | 1:07pm:

Two hours into the fire, it still does not appear to be contained.

Firefighters and other security personnel are working to contain the fire at Villagio. They have already evacuated all persons in the mall.

— MOI, Qatar (@MOI_QatarEn) May 28, 2012

#VillagioFire Firefighters have reached the main source of fire at Villagio and surrounded the area with all means to extinguish fire.

— MOI, Qatar (@MOI_QatarEn) May 28, 2012

Authorities are asking people not to “spread rumors as it will create panic among people.” 

So far, one person has been transferred to Hamad Hospital for medical treatment, but his condition is unknown, an HMC representative told Doha News.

UPDATE | 12:56pm:

Concerns have been raised about children being trapped inside Villaggio’s Gympanzee Nursery, but they appear to have been rescued: 

Ok they are finally getting the kids out. Oh my god. #villagio

— BintAlRifai (@BintAlRifai) May 28, 2012

EARLIER:

Initial reports from the Ministry of Interior (MOI) say the fire began at Gate 3, and witnesses told Doha News that the Nike store and the Go Sport shop were seen on fire.

No serious injuries or deaths have been reported, but MOI is treating some at the scene for smoke inhalation. 

More details as we get them.

VIDEO:

We can’t get anyone who works at the mall on the phone, but here’s what we’ve been told by people there:

@dohanews big smoke coming out from villaggio food court

— Adria Massaguer (@adriatomatic) May 28, 2012

Villagio on fire @dohanews

— Stephanie Fensom (@StephQatar) May 28, 2012

@dohanews fire in Villaggio.Everyone being evacuated

— Hamish Scott (@hamishfs) May 28, 2012

@dohanews i can even see ashes on alwaab street. #Qatar. Its a major fire and gate 1 and 2 all under police control. twitter.com/MohsinAltaf/st…

— Mohsin Mohammad (@MohsinAltaf) May 28, 2012

@dohanews Ahem, reporting live from Ground Zero. The fire isn’t as big as it seems. In fact the alarms are off.

— Alim Salahud-din (@alimsalahuddin) May 28, 2012

@dohanews Fire is getting larger.

— Alim Salahud-din (@alimsalahuddin) May 28, 2012

@dohanews the picture of the inside yfrog.com/nyijwimj

— Harsh Kanjani (@Harsh_rk) May 28, 2012

Villagio now. Fire has spread right the way down. #doha #qatar @dohanews twitter.com/katiebakesx/st…

— glen coco (@katiebakesx) May 28, 2012

Has definitely calmed down a lot at villaggio. Think they have it contained now #doha #qatar @dohanews twitter.com/katiebakesx/st…

— glen coco (@katiebakesx) May 28, 2012

@dohanews huge traffic, police diverting traffic away from area. I was with kids in bowling and I was told nothing to worry about.

— Ghida Khalil (@GhidaZK) May 28, 2012

PHOTOS:

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Credit: Photos courtesy of Babs, Candida A. Myers, Susie Billings, Ben Phillip, Udhin krisdhianto‏, Nodi_Qtr, Harsh_Rk, Fahad Buzwair, Ghalia Al-M, Vani Saraswathi

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