Latvian Prime MInister Valdis Dombrovskis has announced his resignation accepting political responsibility for the supermarket tragedy in which more than 50 people died.
He was the longest serving prime minister in the history of the Baltic state and the resignation throws the country into political turmoil just over a month before Latvia joins the eurozone.
The collapse of the supermarket roof last week in Riga sent shock waves through the former Soviet republic which joined the EU nearly a decade ago. At least 54 were killed and over 40 injured. The President Andris Berzins called the disaster, “murder”.
The government came under criticism after the tragedy and police have launched a criminal investigation reportedly focusing on the construction of the building.
Local media sources said workers had been building a roof garden on the single-storey building which is on the outskirts of the capital Riga.