http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europ...apse/index.html


(CNN) -- The roof of an exposition hall in southern Poland collapsed Saturday while several hundred people were inside, killing at least 12 people and trapping others beneath the wreckage, according to Polish police.

"It looks like a collapsed house of cards," PolSat reporter Marek Sygacz told CNN.

Video of the scene showed several buckled walls, which appeared to be made from aluminum.

Rescue workers have arrived at the scene and are calling out to those trapped to stay calm, that help is on the way, Sygacz said.

The incident happened in Chorzow at the International Exposition Hall of Kadowice during a carrier pigeon show.

Police believe heavy snow caused the roof to collapse.

It is unclear how many people are trapped. At least 30 people were injured and taken to the hospital, a police spokesman told CNN.

Sygacz described the situation as "absolutely horrible," and said family members have gathered outside the hall trying to get any word of their missing loved ones.

The pigeon show is a family event and children were among those attending, Sygacz said.

Poland's state television reported as many as 1,000 people could have been inside the hall.

Rescue crews, including firefighters with search dogs, raced to the scene from other parts of southern Poland.



This thing seems really bad with hundreds of people still trapped inside and the temparature around -15C (5F)

___________________

insignificant cor member alliance

Last edited by stren on Jan-29-2006 at 09:11