The Sun media reports that a significant fire has started in the World Cup city of Lusail in Qatar. Video depicts a plume of dense, black smoke rising close to the fan village of Qetaifan Island North.
The report quoted officials as saying that the blaze broke out in a building under construction in the city. Authorities said the Civil Defense controlled the fire and there were no reported injuries.
As Qatar spent millions preparing for the World Cup, a series of infrastructure problems were followed by the fire.
On an island that is a part of the city of Lusail, which is hosting multiple games during the tournament, including an Argentina-Mexico encounter on Saturday night, according to Qatar’s interior ministry, a fire broke out soon after noon local time.
The distance from the fire to Lusail Stadium was around 3.5 kilometres (2 miles). As World Cup spectators walked amid its stores and eateries, it released thick, black smoke into the sky, which was visible from a bazaar in the heart of Doha.