There is concern in Lusail, Qatar, after a huge fire broke out in the FIFA World Cup host city on Saturday. Clips have emerged on social media showing plumes of black smoke filling the sky as a worrying blaze broke out near the fan village Qetaifan Island North ahead of the day’s matches.
Videos that emerged on social media on Saturday morning showed the village, full of canvas tents, almost engulfed by the thick smoke cloud stemming from the source. It’s not the first fan village concerns that have emerged in Qatar, with many complaining about unfinished accommodation at unreasonable prices.
Other facilities closer to Doha, the capital, have been the subject of fusses over poor air-conditioning, among other issues, in metal container rooms that fans are paying over £200 per night to stay in.
It’s the latest in a string of adverse talking points in the Qatar World Cup, as expected, following other fiascos involving short-notice alcohol bans and ongoing criticism about the country’s attitude toward homosexuality and women’s rights.
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At around 10am, officials claimed the fire started in a building currently under construction only a stone’s throw away from the village that is accommodating supporters visiting Qatar for the winter showcase. Despite the scary scenes, authorities also confirmed that there were no injuries at the scene and that the Civil Defense has controlled the blaze.
Qatar has spent over £185billion to host the 2022 World Cup but has faced issues with infrastructure, particularly in Lusail, a city the Gulf state has built to host the illustrious tournament. What they hoped would be the world’s tallest water slide by the time the World Cup rolled around has not been completed yet, with workers facing a race against time to complete it before the December 18 final.
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The Meryal Waterpark was initially touted to open to the public in November and December, but the pressure is on to complete construction before the World Cup ends. The Qetaifan Island North resort is set to feature impressive tubes and slides, but the related struggles have piled onto the issues surrounding this year’s tournament.
With the fire now dealt with, Saturday’s games are going ahead as planned, with Australia kicking off the action against Tunisia at 10am. Poland vs Saudi Arabia, France vs Denmark and Mexico vs Argentina completes the day’s billing.
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