Over 400,000$ collected to relatives of Riga mall victims

Latvia’s charitable organisation, Ziedot.lv, has collected at least 383,000 dollars to injured people and relatives of those who died in a supermarket collapse in Riga, the organisation’s leader, Ruta Dimante, said. A bank account has been opened for this purpose. Another 50,000 dollars have been provided to the victims of the incident by Rietumu Bank’s charitable fund. The Latvian Orthodox Church is also collecting contributions. Funeral services will be conducted on Sunday. Services will be held in Orthodox, Catholic and other Latvian churches. The tragedy took place on Thursday, November 21. One of the walls and the roof of the supermarket collapsed. Later, when the area was started to be cleared up from the debris another wall collapsed. Rescue works have been continuing for 48 hours. At the moment at least 150 rescuers are involved in the works. They have to check about 80 metres of the debris. Policemen report fifty-four people, including three rescuers, died in the collapse. At least 40 people received traumas. Among them are 13 rescuers. Twenty-nine people were taken to hospital. Other people refused to go to hospital and received first medical aid on the spot. Policemen say thirteen people can be under the debris. Riga Mayor Nil Ushakov said up to 16 people could be under the debris. However, rescuers say there are no chances anyone could be alive.