Over 40 people have been killed after the roof a Maxima store in Latvia collapsed yesterday evening.
Reports this afternoon put the latest number at fatalities at 45, including shoppers and three emergency workers who died helping those in the store – located in the capital, Riga – when more of the roof fell down. Police say the death toll could rise.
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The reason for the collapse is unclear. Some pointed to the weight of soil from a winter garden being built on the store’s roof.
Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis visited the store today and said police officials had started an investigation. “The criminal process has started about violating building standards,” the Prime Minister reportedly said.
According to Reuters, interior minister Rihards Kozlovskis told local television: “It is clear that there has been a problem with fulfilment of construction requirements.”
The roof first collapsed at 18:00 local time; twenty minutes later, more of the roof fell in.
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By GlobalDataThe incident is said to be the worst disaster for Latvia since it gained independence in 1991. The Latvian government has announced three days of mourning starting tomorrow.
In a statement on its website, Maxima expressed “deep sadness” at the incident. “We are shocked by this disaster and express our deep and sincere condolences to all the victims.”
The company could not be immediately reached for further comment.
