25 February, 2010

Leak at Dubai Mall Aquarium Forces Evacuation

That's the headline in the Wall Street Journal. I've also seen the story on Sky News.

There's a statement from Emaar:

"A leakage was noticed at one of the panel joints of the Dubai Aquarium at The Dubai Mall and was immediately fixed by the aquarium's maintenance team," the emailed statement said. "The leakage did not impact the aquarium environment or the safety of the aquatic animals."

An area is cordoned off and shops closed.

While there may not be a safety problem it's another blow to Brand Dubai. A visitor is reported by the WSJ as saying : "It seems that as they're building things here, they're crumbling at the same time."

The WSJ story is here.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Okay, I've always been critical of everything around me.. and Dubai has never been an exception, but these comments..

If you're hating on Dubai then screw you too. That's all I gotta say.

Anonymous said...

Anon, it has little to do with "hating on Dubai." And telling Seabee to screw off doesn't change the fact that people all over the world will just see this as another boo boo on Dubai's part. The hits just keep on coming, and it'll take time and effort to repair damage done to the image, not defensive vitriol from residents.

Anonymous said...

Here we go again, another one of those Phantom PR with a mildly flavored profane defense!

Bravo bird brain ;)

Lirun said...

wow its been quiet around here

pusangkalye said...

that's a bit scary...just can't imagine if it completely breaks and kill innocent kids who are in the place to learn and enjoy the view....good thing the authorities were quick to make the call.....

unJane said...

Maybe it's an attempt to be released from captivity, like poor Tilikum in Florida. Captive animals of the world, revolt!

Anonymous said...

Was anyone else at the Global village last night? It rained very heavily for 15 minutes, and after that they evacuated the whole fair, and there were 5-6 ambulances at the entrance, I think it was serious.

Anonymous said...

I heard a lady died at the global village last evening. The reason is not very clear to me yet.

Anonymous said...

I hope this place never experiences a "real" natural disaster.....a little bit of rain and the whole infrastructure and shoddy buildings in Dubai start to crumble.....

what a circus......

mousa said...

A 60-year old lady was killed in the India pavilion at GV when a sign broke loose and fell on her. I experienced the wind and storm in that area...it was beyond description: sand, gusting winds, and heavy rain combined.

hemlock said...

one of the pavillions collapsed killing one and injuring a few.

it's in the national.

Lirun said...

interesting.. dubai has had so much media coverage lately internationally and yet the forum remains silent..

Anonymous said...

Guys just a question - did Hurricane Katrina tarnish anyone's image?
Or Haiti or Chile?
The De Gaulle airport had probs and the metro had issues in India.
So pls get a life and stop attacking brand Dubai when flaws appear in a building after rains.
I have been told from authority that clients and users must wait for a full one year after project completion to rectify building issues that crop up. that might have been a flaw with buildings here but all cities have probs
Ms Useless Diploma, maybe you live in Disneyland where it never rains I bet or gets hits..

Anonymous said...

Lirun,

Whoever (including your own) did a job on that Hamas guy totally messed it up. If I was running that show, I would have packaged & hauled that (Hamas) guy alive out of town and then used him as leverage to secure the release (bones & ashes included) for/of Ron Arad and Gilad Shalit.

But that's me and it's because I've been following Ron Arad's case since '86.

Dxb said...

Apples and Oranges Anon commentator. What has Haiti, Chile and Katrina got to do with a fish tank springing a leak, the fact that infrastructure here is still woeful, that building quality is lower than it should be, or a lift in the world's tallest building breaking? Nothing at all.

If Brand Dubai didn't spend billions telling everyone that it was the best at everything, and didn't repress people who tried to point out mistakes. If it listened instead of arrogantly dismissing anyone who criticised (granted sometimes not very constructively) as jealous and biased, then it wouldn't be making so many headlines. If it didn't try to and supress stories, or refuse to talk to the media and answer their questions. Then the international media wouldn't highlight this stuff so much.

Pointing out issues is not treason. It can only help a place to grow. It's a sign of insecurity that Dubai inc cannot take it as this (or counter it with transparency)

Simples...

Steve Why said...

Firstly...Dubai is a far better place and any location in the world, I know...I was born here and am still living here, I have travelled to most places in the world but when I come back to Dubai, I feel at home.

Problems happened everywhere, this rain is not going to drown dubai, its just a rain and we have to expect things to happen.

The Dubai authorities have done very well to take care of its people and expats living here and I stand and applaud what they have done, not just today, but since the beginning of time.

To bad some people cant notice it.

I pray that GOD may always shower his blessings on the UAE.

Shanz said...

I was there when they noticed. Gave me flashback of movie Jaws

Anonymous said...

Hurricane Katrina never tried to pass off as a minor problem.

Chile is not pretending it never had an earthquake!

Dubai does get rather interesting when it rains. All flyovers flood so soon :) Why are you so defensive about it! And people have died due to this little rain.

A lot of schools are going to have their final, board exams affiliated to their parent countries (mother boards!). How will those students even get to the exam halls at Garhoud at 8.15 a.m., starting day after!

These are real issues and no one is trying to brand dubai as a monster!

Mohammed said...

Steve, just know that there are plenty of people who dont share your views, so no point in trying to make sweeping statements on how Dubai takes care of its residents (expats have to leave withing a month of being unemployed).

Just because you are still living here doesnt prove anything regarding Dubai as there are many others who were born there and left voluntarliy to places that are not hyper-capitalistic and were built with planning in mind instead of being built to break world records

Anonymous said...

Actually Ms Useless Diploma, my comment was directed to WSJ and not Saebee.

ADW Camper said...

Is this blog forum running out of steam? Only a couple of postings in the past few weeks - and nothing on the murder of a Hamas chief by the Israelis in Dubai.

Has everybody gone home, or just switched off?!

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