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Mall blaze claims 19 lives

DOHA, Qatar, May 28 (UPI) -- A huge fire at a Qatari shopping mall in Doha left a reported 19 people dead, including 13 children, a government official said Monday.

Interior Minister Sheik Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa al-Thani said in a news conference he would immediately "open a full investigation into the cause of this tragedy" at Villagio Mall, offering his sincere condolences to the families of the victims.

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Villagio Mall stretches 360,000 square feet.

Arabian Business.com said on Monday nationals from Spain, Japan, the Philippines, Benin and Arab countries were among the victims.

Newscore online news site said on Monday that 180 civil defense personnel were involved in extinguishing the blaze and rescue efforts.

Arabian Business.com said on Monday no explanation over how the fire started had yet been provided.

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