WATCH: Huge fire at Qatar's largest under-construction mall

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WATCH: Huge fire at Qatars largest under-construction mall

Doha - Local media said the fire broke out at the construction site of the Mall of Qatar, which will be the country's largest shopping centre when it opens later this year.

By AFP

Published: Sat 2 Apr 2016, 7:58 PM

Last updated: Sun 3 Apr 2016, 8:28 AM

A fire broke out Saturday at a shopping complex under construction near one of the stadiums that will host matches during the World Cup in 2022, Qatar's interior ministry said.
"Civil Defence is fighting a blaze that broke out at an under-construction shopping complex (near) Rayyan Sports Club," the ministry tweeted.

Civil Defence is fighting a blaze that broke out at an under-construction shopping complex nearby Rayyan Sports Club. #MoI_Qatar
- Ministry of Interior (@MOI_QatarEn) April 2, 2016

Local media said the fire broke out at the construction site of the Mall of Qatar, which will be the Gulf country's largest shopping centre when it opens later this year.
Pictures circulated on social media showing plumes of black smoke billowing from the construction site in a western suburb of Doha.

BREAKING: Huge fire breaks out at under-construction Mall of Qatar #DohaFire #Qatar #DohaRead more: http://goo.gl/7X647D #QatarDay
Posted by Qatar Day on Saturday, April 2, 2016

Qatar mall fire...
Posted by Rajan Gyawali on Saturday, April 2, 2016

A Facebook statement by the contractor working on the complex confirmed that the fire broke out at at 2:30 pm (11:30 GMT).
"No casualties have been reported, and over 14,000 labourers and staff were safely evacuated from the premises," said Mowafaq Kharbat, project director of Urbacon Trading and Contracting.
"An investigation is being conducted and details will be provided once the investigation is complete," he added.
Qatar is engaged in multi-billion-dollar work on projects directly or indirectly linked to the 2022 World Cup.
The Mall of Qatar is a 500,000-square-metre retail and entertainment complex near the 40,000-seater Al-Rayyan stadium, which is undergoing renovation for the World Cup.