LATVIA: Four people are killed and dozens more are feared trapped after the roof of a busy supermarket in Latvia's capital Riga collapsed

Record ID: 216409

  • Title: LATVIA: Four people are killed and dozens more are feared trapped after the roof of a busy supermarket in Latvia's capital Riga collapsed
  • Date: 21st November 2013
  • Summary: RIGA, LATVIA (NOVEMBER 21, 2013) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF COLLAPSED SUPERMARKET BUILDING VARIOUS OF EXCAVATOR POURING RUBBISH RESCUE OFFICIALS AT SITE (SOUNDBITE) (Latvian) HEAD OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL AID SERVICE, ARMANDS PLORINS, SAYING: "At the moment we have three dead, 18 injured. Injured have been taken to several hospitals." POLICE CAR AND OTHER VEHICLES AT SITE DOCTO
  • Embargoed: 6th December 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Latvia
  • Country: Latvia
  • Topics: Accidents
  • Reuters ID: LVA4DRHCCJIQHAUWUBDKGCYYMST3
  • Story Text: Four people were killed and dozens more were feared trapped after the roof of a busy supermarket in Latvia's capital Riga collapsed on Thursday evening (November 21), a rescue official said.
    The Maxima grocery store was surrounded by fire trucks and ambulances with rescue workers using their hands and crow-bars to pull away rubble from inside the single storey, modern building.

    "At the moment we have three dead, 18 injured. Injured have been taken to several hospitals," said head of emergency medical aid service Armands Plorins. The toll later rose to four.
    Rescue workers were called to the store, situated among grey, Soviet-era housing in a suburb of the capital, after the roof collapsed had been caught by a second cave-in.

    "As we are still working inside, the situation may change. Falls are happening from time to time. Therefore it is very dangerous to work inside," said Normunds Plegermanis, deputy head of rescue and emergency service.
    The cause of the collapse was not known, but local media said workers had been building a roof garden on the store.
    Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis said rescue work was likely to take several more hours.

    "Just a few minutes ago, one more woman was rescued," Dombrovskis said.
    Witnesses described the confusion that followed the collapse.

    "Most people started crying and screaming as it was sure that those who were left inside after the first collapse would not be alive after the second fall," said Anita Daukste.

    "I had just left the supermarket eight minutes ago, but now I only feel sorrow for those who are there," said Viktoriya Cherenkova.
    Local media reported that seven firemen were among those injured in the collapse, which happened at around 6 pm local time (1700 GMT) as many people were shopping on the way home from work.
    Soldiers had been called in to help with the rescue efforts and police dogs were looking for survivors.
    Local media reported that the Maxima supermarket, estimated at around 500 square meters (5,380 square feet) in size, had been awarded an architecture prize when it was completed in 2011.
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