Dubai's Atlantis The Palm has moved to deny online rumours of a fire at the Palm Jumeirah hotel, pointing out that images circulated on social media were from a fire which occurred in 2008 before the hotel opened.
In response to false images recirculated, the hotel on Monday issued the following message through its official Twitter account:
Recent posts on social media stating that there was a fire @ATLANTIS are incorrect & images attached are from the 2008 pre-opening incident.
The images circulated in fact referenced a fire which took place in September 2008 when sparks from ongoing welding work within the lobby area spread to wooden boxes and other inflammable materials stored nearby.
"Insurance claims could range anywhere from US $14 million for fit-out damage and other damage to the exteriors, to more than US $30 million if the structure and surrounding areas have been damaged as well," an insurance expert who wished to remain unnamed, told Construction Week at the time.
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According to a project manager working on the hotel, the entire fibreglass roof of the lobby melted and one side of the hotel suffered smoke damage.
An Atlantis spokesperson said at the time: "There was limited damage to the external roof and lobby dome as a result of a contained fire at Atlantis, Palm Jumeirah. The site was fully evacuated of all staff and no one was injured. All safety and fire systems operated in accordance with standard operating procedures and emergency services worked quickly to extinguish the fire. Atlantis will open on time on September 24."
In late 2008, Atlantis went on to host a lavish opening party, reported to have cost in the region of US $20 million, attended in dozens of international celebrities and broadcast around the world.
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