Atlantis fire picture on social media is old: Dubai Media Office

Arabic daily Emarat Al Youm has reported Dubai Government's Media Office as clarifying pictures of the Atlantis resort in Dubai, which show damage due to fire, date back to September 2008.

The pictures are being circulated on social media as if the fire at the Atlantis on Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, is recent.

The Media Office has clarified to Emarat Al Youm that these pictures are of before the official inauguration of the hotel, November 2008.

Dubai Media Office has called on the public and users of social media to verify the credibility of news before posting and spreading.

The report cites the Media Office as calling on the public to be careful with rumours and to check with official sources for details in order to avoid confusion.

A spokesperson at Atlantis, The Palm clarified to Emirates 24|7 that there are two pictures - one that depicts a black plume of smoke above the plush property, while another shows the hotel’s dome badly damaged in a blaze.

The spokesperson said: “Atlantis, The Palm would like to clarify that recent posts on social media stating that there was a fire at the resort are incorrect and images attached to these posts are from the 2008 pre-opening incident.”

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