ABU DHABI // Air-conditioning at Marina Mall was down for around eight hours yesterday, leaving customers and shop staff in a sweat. The problem was first noticed at 10.30am and worsened as the temperature outside soared into the high 40s in the afternoon. "I came here at 2pm and it was burning hot," said Muhammed Taha, a store manager at a fashion outlet on the third floor. "Thursday and Friday we get a lot of business, but now no one is here because of this. People do not want to try any clothes on, they are too sweaty."
Chris Moore, from Sweet Factory, said: "My chocolates are all melted." The problem, which a mall spokesman said was caused by a fault in a chiller unit, resulted in some shops on the upper floors closing and others turning their lights off in an attempt to avoid adding to the heating load. However, at 7pm the mall was still busy. The air-conditioning had been repaired an hour earlier, but the spokesman said: "It will take some time to get back to normal cooling temperature."
vtodorova@thenational.ae