At least 19 foreigners, including 13 children, have been killed in a fire in an upscale shopping mall in the Qatari capital Doha.

Media reports say the fire broke out at a childcare area at the Villagio Mall. The children were from Spain, Japan, the Philippines and Benin. Spanish diplomatic authorities say four of them were Spanish.

The country’s interior ministry says none of the dead were Qataris. Four of the dead adults were teachers and the other two were civil defense personnel. 17 people were also injured, including four children. A ministry official says an investigation is under way, but the immediate cause has not been verified.

A witness says no fire alarms were heard when the fire broke out. (Source: CNTV.cn)

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet