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Latvia roof collapse: Four dead, 'many trapped' in Riga Riga roof collapse: Six dead and others feared trapped
(about 2 hours later)
Some 50 people are feared trapped after a supermarket roof collapsed in the Latvian capital Riga. At least six people have been killed and dozens more are feared trapped after the roof of a supermarket collapsed in the Latvian capital, Riga.
Four people were killed in the collapse - including a firefighter, say officials. About 30 people were hurt. Two of those killed were emergency workers, officials said. At least 27 people have been injured.
There are conflicting reports of what might have caused the collapse, with reports of an explosion and other suggestions that a garden was being constructed on the roof. It is not clear what caused the collapse. A BBC correspondent says the most likely cause is the weight of a garden being constructed on the roof.
The 500 sq m (5,000 sq ft) store run by the Maxima chain opened in 2011. The 500 sq m (5,000 sq ft) store, run by the Maxima chain, opened in 2011.
The accident is believed to have happened at about 18:00 local time (16:00 GMT), when the shop was busy with people shopping on their way home from work. The collapse happened just before 18:00 local time (16:00 GMT), when the shop was busy with people shopping on their way home from work.
Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman Viktorija Sembele said one firefighter was among those killed. It brought down the supermarket's high walls and windows in a ripple effect that filled the shell of the building with rubble and left shattered glass on the street, witnesses said.
Seven were injured after another portion of roof fell on rescue workers as they searched for survivors, reported the Associated Press news agency. About 20 minutes later, another part of the roof caved in, trapping rescue workers who were trying to reach survivors.
Dozens of emergency workers are at the scene trying to reach any survivors through the rubble. Dozens of emergency teams are at the scene and as many as 50 people are feared trapped in the rubble.
"Rescue efforts will continue through the night but it's too early to name a cause or say whether there will be more victims or survivors," Ms Sembele told AFP news agency. "Rescue efforts will continue through the night but it's too early to name a cause or say whether there will be more victims or survivors," Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman Viktorija Sembele told AFP news agency.
Riga's deputy mayor Andris Ameriks was quoted as saying the collapse might have been caused by an explosion. Ambulance service spokeswoman Ilze Buksa said 27 people had been injured and 22 of those had been taken to hospital.
But local media say a "winter garden" was being planted on the roof using sand which had become sodden with rain. Witnesses say customers tried to run out after the first part of the roof collapsed - but that the supermarket's electronic doors closed, trapping them inside.
Rumours of an explosion have been denied by reporters on the scene, says the BBC's Caucasus correspondent Damien McGuinness.
The most likely explanation is the weight of soil which was being used to plant a winter garden on the roof, he says.
Mayor Nils Usakovs announced he was cancelling his leave and calling an emergency meeting of municipal and rescue services for Friday, AFP reported.Mayor Nils Usakovs announced he was cancelling his leave and calling an emergency meeting of municipal and rescue services for Friday, AFP reported.
"As soon as rescue work has finished, construction experts will investigate the causes," said a news release from his office."As soon as rescue work has finished, construction experts will investigate the causes," said a news release from his office.