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| Latvia launches inquiry into deadly Riga store collapse | Latvia launches inquiry into deadly Riga store collapse |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A criminal investigation has begun after the roof of a supermarket in the Latvian capital Riga collapsed, Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis has said. | A criminal investigation has begun after the roof of a supermarket in the Latvian capital Riga collapsed, Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis has said. |
| Eighteen people are dead and dozens more are feared missing as rescue efforts continued through the night. | |
| Three of those killed were emergency workers who were helping people trapped when more of the roof came down. | Three of those killed were emergency workers who were helping people trapped when more of the roof came down. |
| The cause of the collapse is unclear although reports say a garden was being constructed on the roof at the time. | The cause of the collapse is unclear although reports say a garden was being constructed on the roof at the time. |
| The supermarket, which opened in 2011, is part of the Maxima retail chain. | The supermarket, which opened in 2011, is part of the Maxima retail chain. |
| "The police have started the investigation already," said Mr Dombrovskis after visiting the scene. | "The police have started the investigation already," said Mr Dombrovskis after visiting the scene. |
| "The criminal process has started about violating construction norms." | "The criminal process has started about violating construction norms." |
| Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis told Latvian TV: "It is clear that there has been a problem with fulfilment of construction requirements." | Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis told Latvian TV: "It is clear that there has been a problem with fulfilment of construction requirements." |
| Latvian rescue services spokeswoman Viktorija Sembele said early on Thursday that emergency workers were among those killed. | |
| "Three of them were state fire and rescue service officials. Overall eight firefighters have been injured," she said. | "Three of them were state fire and rescue service officials. Overall eight firefighters have been injured," she said. |
| Earlier, officials said that at least 35 people had been injured. | Earlier, officials said that at least 35 people had been injured. |
| TV footage showed rescue workers using mechanical cutters to clear debris from the single-storey concrete and glass building. Cranes were brought in to remove slabs of concrete. | TV footage showed rescue workers using mechanical cutters to clear debris from the single-storey concrete and glass building. Cranes were brought in to remove slabs of concrete. |
| More than 60 soldiers were helping the rescue effort, the army said on its official Twitter feed. | More than 60 soldiers were helping the rescue effort, the army said on its official Twitter feed. |
| The initial collapse happened just before 18:00 (16:00 GMT) on Thursday, when the store was busy with customers. | The initial collapse happened just before 18:00 (16:00 GMT) on Thursday, when the store was busy with customers. |
| Walls and windows also crumbled, leaving the shell of the building piled with rubble, witnesses said. | Walls and windows also crumbled, leaving the shell of the building piled with rubble, witnesses said. |
| About 20 minutes later another part of the roof caved in, trapping rescue workers who were trying to reach survivors. | About 20 minutes later another part of the roof caved in, trapping rescue workers who were trying to reach survivors. |
| The rescue services believe a total of about 500sq m (5,300sq ft) of roof caved in, according to reports. | |
| Witnesses said customers tried to run out after the first part of the roof collapsed but the supermarket's electronic doors closed, trapping them inside. | Witnesses said customers tried to run out after the first part of the roof collapsed but the supermarket's electronic doors closed, trapping them inside. |
| Normunds Plegermanis, deputy head of rescue services, said emergency teams faced difficult conditions. | Normunds Plegermanis, deputy head of rescue services, said emergency teams faced difficult conditions. |
| "Falls are happening from time to time... it is very dangerous to work inside," he said. | "Falls are happening from time to time... it is very dangerous to work inside," he said. |
| The reason for the collapse is not known. However, the BBC's Caucasus correspondent Damien McGuinness says a possible explanation is the weight of soil being used to plant a winter garden on the supermarket's roof. | The reason for the collapse is not known. However, the BBC's Caucasus correspondent Damien McGuinness says a possible explanation is the weight of soil being used to plant a winter garden on the supermarket's roof. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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