56 dead in Moscow roof collapse 

cctv.com 02-24-2006 09:27

In Russia, rescuers are searching through the wreckage of a roof that's collapsed at a Moscow market. At least 56 people have been killed and 32 injured. No Chinese citizens have been confirmed dead or wounded.

Snow fell and temperatures plummeted in Moscow on Thursday night. But, under floodlights, rescue workers continued to look for survivors beneath the wreckage of the collapsed market roof.

Emergency officials said it was unclear how many people were in the building when the roof caved in early on Thursday.

Survivor said, "We were sitting at the edge, by the door and were able to get out. But those who were in the middle of the market couldn't. There were a lot of them."

Most of the market's business owners come from Central Asia. The Chinese embassy to Russia says no Chinese have been found dead or injured, so far. Officials said the dead and injured are municipal and market workers. And that all the dead were workers from outside Moscow.

Almost all of the snow-laden roof of the market collapsed. Later, a fire broke out on the edge of the site. It sent acrid smoke billowing into the air.

Rescuers with sniffer dogs cut through concrete blocks and metal beams to extract survivors. The dogs paused frequently to put their ears to the rubble to listen for signs of life. Relatives of the survivors in the ruins were asked to use mobile phones to help rescuers locate them.

Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov said there was no evidence that the collapse had been an act of terror. But officials say heavy snowfall overnight, as well as design flaws, might be to blame for the collapse.

The market was built some 30 years ago. The roof covers an area of 2,000 to 3,000 square meters in the eastern Moscow district of Baumanskaya.

Editor:Chen Zhuo  Source:CCTV.com