2012 Villaggio Mall fire

Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani, the state minister for the interior, stated that the operations center received the initial report of a fire at Villaggio at 11:02 am. He noted that police and civil defense teams arrived at the scene within minutes, as reported by the QANA state news agency. He explained that it became evident that there were 20 children present at the nursery, and efforts were focused on evacuating them. Brigadier Hamad al-Duhaimi of the Qatari civil defense stated that firefighters had to break through the roof for access after a staircase collapsed and that attempts to reach the children's area were hindered by the intense heat. A subsequent investigation revealed that the fire started on the upper floor of a Nike sports goods store due to an electrical issue with a faulty spotlight. Describing the scene, expatriate New Zealand journalist Tarek Bazley likened the smoke to that of numerous steam trains. He criticized the lack of urgency among mall officials when alarms sounded. Describing the sound of the fire alarm as "more like a door bell," Bazley expressed concern and received reassurance from an attendant that it was likely a false alarm. He noted that it was a member of the public who urgently alerted everyone to evacuate as the fire had spread to another part of the mall. The fire killed 19 people, including 13 children, four teachers, and two firefighters. == Aftermath ==

Reactions Despite all the victims being expatriates, memorial ceremonies following the incident attracted many Qataris. A few weeks after the fire, Nike released the following statement:Nike is deeply saddened by the deaths three weeks ago at the Villagio Mall in Qatar and our sympathies go out to the families involved. Nike is aware that the investigative report into the fire has been completed by local authorities and the Nike store, owned and operated by our Middle East distributor, was part of the investigation. Nike is seeking further clarity around a number of elements raised in the report before providing further comment.” Investigation and trial The Qatar Special Higher Committee's investigation found negligence on the part of the security team responsible for the shopping complex, citing delayed response to the incident. The committee also noted the absence of emergency plans to address such a scale of emergency and highlighted a lack of training among the shopping center staff to handle fire-related scenarios. The fire was determined to have originated on the upper floor of a Nike sports goods due to an electrical issue that caused a faulty spotlight to ignite and was exacerbated by flammable paint, leading to its rapid spread. The investigation attributed the fire to a "failure to comply with laws, regulations, and safety measures by various parties to varying extents." According to a report, the day care center "lacked the required licensing as a nursery from the ministry of social affairs, thereby failing to meet necessary safety standards." and ordered to pay 200,000 Qatari riyal in blood money to the victims’ families. received the same sentence and restitution order. Defense lawyers attempted to portray the Villaggio fire as typical of other incidents in the country, emphasizing the extensive media coverage it received. Concerns arose regarding the functionality of the mall's fire suppression systems on the day of the incident, particularly as reports indicated some water pumps at the shopping center needed repair. Defense counsel argued that the faulty pumps serviced the mall's outdoor irrigation system, not firefighting equipment. The attorney representing the mall manager contested the lower court's conclusion regarding the length of the shopping center's fire hoses. Civil Defense witnesses testified during the appeal hearings that the mall operated with a valid license, despite previous concerns raised about the flammable nature of its paint and decorations before its opening in 2006 and during a subsequent review two years later. In October 2015, the Court of Appeal overturned the convictions of involuntary manslaughter after ruling that several pieces of evidence and witness testimony were inadmissible, acquitting the four individuals who had been convicted and sentenced. Qatar’s attorney general Ali bin Fetais Al Marri sought a review of the decision. In February 2016, Qatar’s highest court, the Court of Cassation, ordered a retrial at the Court of Appeal, ruling that the judge applied the law incorrectly. In June 2013, the mall reopened the damaged corridor and it was reported that no memorial had been erected along the hallways. The families of the deceased accused the mall of "continual insensitive behaviour" in a statement. ==References==