Construction, Latvia, Legislation, Markets and Companies, Real Estate

The Riga supermarket tragedy has become the largest loss of life in an incident in the country since the restoration of independence. On February 23, 2007, a fire engulfed the "Regi" nursing home building in Alsunga (Kuldiga District), killing 26 persons inside.

November 23 and 24 will be national days of mourning in Latvia, according to a draft decree that the government will review at an emergency meeting today.

Flags will fly half-mast today and tomorrow everywhere in Latvia to commemorate the victims of the "Maxima" department store collapse in Riga on November 21.

Also, a moment of silence will be observed in Latvia tomorrow at noon, states the decree.

As reported, the roof of the Maxima supermarket caved in Thursday evening. It is impossible to say at the moment how long the rescue operation will continue. It is also still unknown how many people may be still trapped underneath the rubble.

Maxima supermarket chain will carry inspections at everyone of its stores in Latvia. The company also intends to pay out compensation to all, the head of Maxima Latvija Gintaras Jasinskas said in a press conference today.

Jasinskas could not say anything at the moment regarding the amount of compensations.

He said that the inspections at the Maxima stores will be carried out within the next two months.

According to Jasinskas, there were approximately 30 Maxima employees in the supermarket at the time, two of which are dead and another two missing.