More victims’ bodies are being retrieved from a wrecked supermarket in Riga where a roof collapsed killing dozens of people.
The incident happened on Thursday evening as the store was full of day’s-end shoppers.
At least 43 people have died, and another 25 people are still missing and thought to be in the ruins. Dozens more are injured.
The Latvian government has announced three days of mourning beginning on Saturday.
The prime minister called it a national tragedy and promised swift action.
“It is quite clear that we have to take necessary steps to avoid tragedies like this one happening again. We are going to take more severe control measures in construction sites of this kind, especially in sites that are currently under construction or the construction is planned to start soon,” said Valdis Dombrovskis.
It is the country’s worst post-Soviet disaster. The last comparable incident was in 2007 when a fire at a care home killed 26 elderly and infirm people.
The Riga supermarket was built two years ago and had won awards for its design. A roof garden was being constructed on top of it when it collapsed. Many are wondering if this triggered the structural failure.
