Qatar’s interior ministry says that authorities are counting the casualties after a large fire broke out at a major shopping mall and entertainment complex in the capital Doha, but did not disclose any numbers.
The ministry said on Monday that officials were assessing the number of casualties and damage caused by the blaze at the Villaggio mall.
“The concerned authorities are taking toll of human casualties and material losses at Villaggio fire. All the details will be updated,” the ministry said in an update on Twitter.
It said that civil defence teams had managed to contain the blaze, and that a news conference later on Monday would “elaborate on the cause of the fire and human casualties”.
A spokesperson for the city’s main hospital said that updates on deaths and casualties would be given at the interior ministry press conference at 6pm local time.
Footage posted online showed black smoke billowing from the shopping centre as emergency vehicles rushed to the scene.
The Villagio is one of the country’s largest and most popular shopping malls, containing a cinema, an ice rink and an amusement park.
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