At least 25 people were killed and more than 30 injured when the roof of a supermarket collapsed in the Latvian capital Riga, police in the Baltic country said Friday.
Three fireman were among the dead. Several people were likely still trapped under the rubble and a spokesman for the rescue workers said that the number of missing was unclear, dpa reported.
Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis said it was "a tragic and black day" in the history of Latvia.
The roof of the Maxima supermarket collapsed Thursday evening over an area of 500 square metres, when dozens of shoppers were in the building.
On Friday, rescue teams, including dozens of soldiers, were searching for survivors. Hospitals have called for more blood donations.
Witnesses said that they heard an alarm before the roof caved in. Police are investigating the operator of the supermarket, for failure to react to warnings.
Latvian media reported that the roof had been undergoing reconstruction. The building was only completed in 2011.