DOHA // A fire ripped through a labour camp in southwestern Qatar killing 11 people and injuring 12 others, the interior ministry said late on Thursday.
An investigation is under way to determine the cause of the fire which broke out on Wednesday at a camp for labourers working on a waterfront tourism project, it said.
“11 people died and 12 injured in the fire and they are hospitalised. Investigation is going on to identify the causes of the fire,” the ministry tweeted.
Pictures posted online, purportedly from the site of the fire, showed black smoke rising hundreds of feet into the air.
Qatar’s interior ministry said that civil defence teams contained the blaze and that firefighters managed to prevent it from spreading.
The identity of the victims was not immediately known.
The fire comes two months after another blaze broke out at an $825 million mall under construction near a stadium for the 2022 World Cup. Some 14,000 labourers and staff had to be evacuated in that fire, though there were no reported injuries.
Wednesday’s fire was believed to be the deadliest in Qatar since a 2012 blaze at the high-end Villaggio shopping mall in the capital, Doha. That fire killed 19 people, including 13 children.
In February, a 35-year-old Indian worker was killed in a fire which ripped through a labour camp in the town of Al Sheehaniya, west of Doha.
* Agencies
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
Mental%20health%20support%20in%20the%20UAE
%3Cp%3E%E2%97%8F%20Estijaba%20helpline%3A%208001717%3Cbr%3E%E2%97%8F%20UAE%20Ministry%20of%20Health%20and%20Prevention%20hotline%3A%20045192519%3Cbr%3E%E2%97%8F%20UAE%20Mental%20health%20support%20line%3A%20800%204673%20(Hope)%3Cbr%3EMore%20information%20at%20hope.hw.gov.ae%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5