MOSCOW, February 24 (RIA Novosti) - Rescue workers have finished clearing the rubble at the Basmanny market in downtown Moscow where a partial roof collapse killed 57 people and injured more than 30 on February 23, an emergencies ministry spokesman said Friday.
"A total number of victims reached 57 people, including a child," Irina Andrianova said. "More than 30 people were injured, 23 of them were hospitalized."
She also said there were no people under the rubble, but the rescuers were still clearing the debris at the site of the tragedy.
Moscow Chief Prosecutor Anatoly Zuyev said earlier that an investigation had been launched in connection with the accident and three possible causes had been considered - a violation of building maintenance regulations, negligence on the part of the officials who inspected the building conditions, and mistakes in the architectural design of the building.
Investigators interrogated Thursday an architect who designed the Basmanny market building.
"He was questioned in connection with the investigation," a prosecutor's official said referring to Nodar Kancheli, who also designed the Transvaal Park building in the capital that collapsed on February 14, 2004 killing 28 people.
"We are planning to interrogate him in the future depending on the results of further investigation," the official said.
The architect said the accident could have been caused by improper maintenance of the building or by excessive amount of snow on its roof.
