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Latvia store collapse: Deaths rise as rescue continues Latvia store collapse: Deaths rise as Riga rescue continues
(about 1 hour later)
At least 26 people have died and more are feared missing after the roof of a supermarket in the Latvian capital Riga collapsed. At least 32 people have died after the roof of a supermarket collapsed in the Latvian capital Riga.
Rescue efforts continued through the night and police have launched a criminal investigation.Rescue efforts continued through the night and police have launched a criminal investigation.
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 number of deaths makes this the former Soviet republic's worst disaster since independence in 1991, the country's main news agency says.
It is unclear how many more people could still be inside.
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 Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis after visiting the scene."The police have started the investigation already," said Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis after visiting the scene.
"The criminal process has started about violating building standards.""The criminal process has started about violating building standards."
Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis told Latvian TV it was "clear" there had been a problem meeting building regulations.Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis told Latvian TV it was "clear" there had been a problem meeting building regulations.
Latvian rescue services spokeswoman Viktorija Sembele said early on Thursday that emergency workers were among those killed. Latvian rescue services spokeswoman Viktorija Sembele said three firefighters were among those killed.
"Three of them were state fire and rescue service officials. Overall eight firefighters have been injured," she said. "We do not know the number of people who are still inside," she told the BBC.
Earlier, officials said that at least 35 people had been injured. She said people were being asked to call the mobile phones of relatives feared missing to help rescuers find them in the rubble.
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.
Dangerous work
The rescue services believe a total of about 500sq m (5,300sq ft) of roof caved in, according to reports.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. LETA news agency said the collapse represented the largest loss of life from a disaster since the restoration of independence in 1990, worse than a fire at a nursing home in 2007 that killed 25.
Normunds Plegermanis, deputy head of rescue services, said emergency teams faced difficult conditions at the supermarket.
"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.
Local media said the building had been awarded a national architecture prize when it was completed in 2011.Local media said the building had been awarded a national architecture prize when it was completed in 2011.
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.
Karlis Andersons, 25, who lives in the suburbs of Riga, told the BBC that people across the city were coming together to help those involved.Karlis Andersons, 25, who lives in the suburbs of Riga, told the BBC that people across the city were coming together to help those involved.
"Everyone here knows someone who has been affected," he said."Everyone here knows someone who has been affected," he said.
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