The roof of a Maxima supermarket in Latvia’s capital Riga collapsed Thursday, leaving at least 45 people dead. It’s the country’s deadliest accident since 1991, when it won independence from the Soviet Union.
CNN reports that Rescue Service spokeswoman Viktorija Sembele had first said that 35 were dead, but it was later revised up to 45 by the State Fire and Rescue Service. A toddler was among the injured and three firefighters are among the dead.
“The firefighters are still working to find people, they are putting away the constructions and still approximately 600 square meters of this collapsed area should be searched through,” Sembele said. She declined to discuss the possible reasons for the collapse, but Riga’s mayor, Nils Usakovs, told CNN that they think it was the building materials.
Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis declared three days of national mourning starting Saturday, reports The Telegraph. “In our thoughts we are together with all those stricken by this tragedy,” he said. “No matter what the cause of the tragedy is, the number of victims is too big.”
The country’s rescue service has estimated that at least 5,300 square feet of roof collapsed, leaving the front windows and high walls destroyed. The building was finished in 2011 and Maxima executives said they’ll comment later.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that many victims still haven’t been identified.
Latvia joined the European Union a decade ago and is set to join the euro zone next year. “I am deeply saddened by the terrible tragedy,” European Commission President Jose Barroso said. “Please convey my expression of deepest sympathy and solidarity to the families of the victims and those who lost their lives in rescuing people as well as to all those affected by this tragic accident.”