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

The police and firefighters were first reported the accident at 6 p.m. on November 21. The initial information was imprecise – it was unclear whether there had been an explosion or something else had occurred. After rescuers arrived and began to work at the scene, the remaining part of the supermarket's roof caved in, trapping and killing more people inside the building.

First reports about the accident mentioned several victims, but the number kept growing all the while the rescue operation was continuing. Among the dead were supermarket customers and employees and, after the second cave-in, rescuers also. Three Fire and Rescue Service officers died at the scene.

The rescue operation continued all night and the following several days. In total, 54 people died and several dozen were injured in the accident.

The Maxima supermarket opened in 2011, it was named one of the three best architectural projects in Latvia that same year.

Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis (Unity) resigned after the Zolitude tragedy, and a number of officials in charge of the construction sector were fired. Several task forces were set up to work on legislative initiatives that were to improve the regulations on the construction sector.

Various measures were implemented in the wake of Zolitude tragedy to determine the cause of the tragedy and the contributing factors, and to adopt various preventive measures so such accidents could never happen in Latvia again.

In one year since the Zolitude tragedy, the government passed several decisions on compensation payments to the families of the victims and to allot extra funds to the authorities involved in liquidation of the consequences of the disaster.

The collapse of Maxima supermarket in Zolitude brought to light a number of shortcomings in construction regulations. The State Construction Supervisory Bureau was established this past October to supervise construction sites and buildings' safety.

The Construction Law was revamped and now stipulates a number of new provisions. For instance, building inspectors now have to visit a construction site at least 2-4 times while a given construction project is under way, and file a report on their findings following each inspection.

A number of other laws were amended to improve safety of buildings and infrastructure, and to inform residents about the relevant safety measures.

One year after the tragedy, investigation is still continuing. Nobody has been brought to account so far, but this may change after the police release their report in the near future.