MOSCOW, February 25 (RIA Novosti) - Another six bodies were recovered from the wreckage at a Moscow market where the roof collapsed Thursday, bringing the total death toll to 64, the Emergency Situations Ministry said Saturday. The ministry said seven bodies had yet to be identified.
A roof at the Basmanny market in downtown Moscow partially collapsed early Thursday and rescue workers continued the search for bodies and survivors throughout the day. At present, the rescue operation has been completed, but the clearing of the debris will reportedly take about four days. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the accident should be thoroughly investigated.
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.
On Friday, the director of the market, Mark Mishiyev, was detained as a suspect, the city prosecutor's office said.
