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The tragedy also is likely to push authorities across the Gulf tofurther examine fire safety rules in a region where the drive tobuild fast and big has brought concerns about the level ofemergency planning. Rescue crews in Qatar's capital Doha had to hack through the roof of the mammoth Villaggio mall toreach the child care facility, where the victims included2-year-old New Zealand triplets and three Spanish siblings. Two firefighters also werekilled. "What happened is similar to murder because of the lack ofsafety measures in such complexes," said wrote Salehal-Kuwari, editor of the Al Raya newspaper in Doha. An editorial in the newspaper Al Arab urged officials around theGulf to consider creating special firefighting and civil defenseunits for the energy-rich region's huge malls. The Villaggioincludes an ice skating rink, theme park, movie theater and indoor Venice -style gondola rides. "Safety requirements must be stressed," said theeditorial. "They also need regular review." Qatar's Interior Ministry said the mall's sprinkler systemmalfunctioned, and rescue efforts were hampered by a lack of floorplans. Other Gulf nations also have confronted concerns aboutwhether public safety planning can keep pace with the rapidconstruction. In November, firefighters in Sharjah , north of Dubai , struggled to battle a blaze in a 25-story tower without equipmentto reach the flames. The United Arab Emirates is considering bans on flammable panels in high-rise buildingsafter more recent back-to-back tower fires. An Al Arab journalist, Marzouki Faisal, reported that the route tothe Villaggio daycare center wound through a "maze" ofnarrow halls and stairways. He and others questioned the rules thatallow childcare sites inside commercial buildings. "What happened is murder as a result of negligence andidleness," he wrote. The full list of those killed has not been issued by Qatarofficials, but most of the nationalities are known from statementsby various countries and families. The young victims include a3-year-old French child, four Spanish children, an 18-month-old South African toddler and the New Zealand triplets, Lillie, Jackson and WillsherWeekes. "It's absolutely devastating," the triplets' grandmother,Jo Turner, told Fairfax Media in New Zealand. Spain 's El Pais newspaper said the Spanish children killed included threesiblings, aged 2 to 7, and a 7-year-old girl from another family.Another newspaper, El Mundo, said the Spanish mothers dropped offtheir children while they shopped. Tennis star Rafael Nadal was among those expressing their condolences via Twitter to the "families and friends" of the victims. The worldNo. 2 has appeared in a number of tournaments in the Gulf state. At least three of the nursery teachers, women from the Philippines , died of smoke inhalation, Philippine Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said in Manila. A South African woman who worked at the center also died, said aSouth African government statement. The Villaggio opened in 2006 and is one of Qatar's most popularshopping and amusement destinations in fast-growing Qatar, whichwill host football's 2022 World Cup . More than three-quarters of Qatar's population of 1.8 millionresidents are foreigners attracted to the tiny nation for jobsranging from laborers to government advisers. Sheik Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani, the minister of state forinterior affairs, said authorities have carried out repeated searchoperations in the mall and confirmed that no one is still trappedinside, according to comments posted on the ministry's website. Qatar's Interior Ministry said Tuesday that civil defense crewscontained two "limited" fires at a school and theQatarAeronautics College. It said there were no casualties in eitherfire. Funeral services for victims of the Villaggio fire were expectedlater Tuesday, it added. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Self Aligning Ball Bearings , China Double Row Roller Bearing for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Ball Joint Bearings.
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