 Villaggio Mall in January 2020, after the fire. | |
 The site of the fire. | |
| Date | 28 May 2012 |
|---|---|
| Time | 11:30 (08:00 GMT) |
| Location | Villaggio Mall, Doha, Qatar |
| Coordinates | 25°15′37″N 51°26′37″E / 25.2602535°N 51.4436073°E |
| Cause | Electrical fault |
| Deaths | 19 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 17 |
| Sentence | 6 years in prison. |
On May 28, 2012, an electrical fire broke out in a shopping mall in Doha, Qatar, killing at least 19 people, including 13 children, and injuring 17. The incident was the first of its scale in Qatar.[1]
Following the incident, a government investigation identified negligence among various parties, attributing the fire to a failure to adhere to safety regulations. Despite acknowledging deficiencies, including a lack of emergency plans and staff training, the investigation concluded that the fire was not premeditated. In June 2013, five individuals were convicted, with varying sentences imposed, and subsequent legal proceedings saw mixed outcomes, including the overturning of four involuntary convictions in October 2015. In April 2016, a ruling saw none of the five defendants facing imprisonment, but instead, they were ordered to pay "blood money" compensation to the victims' families.
The mall reopened in September 2012, prompting criticism from the families of the victims, who felt excluded from the decision-making process and expressed disappointment over the lack of memorialization at the site.