Two Dead in Roof Collapse at Water Park [Update: 26 killed, 111 injured, 20 missing]

Scotsman ^ | 14th February 2004

[yonif]

The vast glass roof covering a Moscow water park collapsed today, killing at least two people and injuring about 60, the Interior Ministry said.

Officials said the collapse was apparently due to snow that had accumulated during several days of heavy snowfall this week. Initial reports said witnesses reported an explosion, although that could have been the sound of beams and glass snapping.

“There was a loud noise,” an unidentified witness told Russia’s Channel One television. “Everybody started to run. I started to run. All of the roof over the zone of water collapsed.”

The collapse happened about 7.30pm local time as the Transvaal water park in Moscow’s south-western suburbs was filled with hundreds of people basking in its heat while temperatures outside hovered around minus –15C (5F).

News reports gave varying casualty tolls, including up to four people killed.

Despite initial reports of an explosion, city police spokesman Pavel Kleimovsky was quoted by ITAR-Tass later as saying accumulated snow was the apparent cause.

The Russian capital has been on edge since the February 6 bombing in a Moscow subway that killed 41 people and wounded more than 100. President Vladimir Putin blamed Chechen rebels for that attack.

The radio station Ekho Moskvy said that some of the customers at the park fled outside into the freezing temperatures clad only in swimsuits. ITAR-Tass said about 600 customers were at the park at the time

The water park is one of several entertainment facilities that have opened over the past couple of years on the city’s outskirts. It includes a large pool, an artificial river and a lengthy water slide.

[yonif]

Media now reports 7 dead, and tens of injured.

[yonif]

Death toll up to 13 now.

[yonif]

Death toll up to 15 now.

[RussianConservative]

Christ have mercy on theirs souls.

[MarMema]

[MarMema]

[MarMema]

[MarMema]

[yonif]

bttt

[MarMema]

[MarMema]

The roof collapsed at about 7:30 p.m. as the water park in Moscow's southwestern suburbs was filled with about 600 people basking in its heat while temperatures outside hovered around 5.

600 people.

[MarMema]

"Fifteen people were killed and 106 people were injured, said Moscow Emergency Situation Department spokesman Yuri Vedeneyev. Andrei Seltsovsky of the Moscow city health department said three of the dead were children and 19 other children had been hospitalized. A child's birthday party was being held in the pool area when the roof collapsed, said Moscow police spokesman Kirill Mazurin."

[MarMema]

"The water park, which opened in 2002, was designed by a Russian architectural firm and constructed by a Turkish firm, Kocak, Ekho Moskvy said. It is one of several flashy entertainment facilities that have opened over the past couple of years on the city's outskirts. It includes a large pool, an artificial river and a lengthy water slide."

I think I read that it was the idea and pet project of a Georgian.

[Palladin]

That's jus awful. Do they suspect terrorists, or was there too much snow on the roof?

[yonif]

Opened in 2002, and I would think it would have modern construction.

[_Jim]

Do they suspect terrorists, or was there too much snow on the roof?

Ever heard ice crack (as it freezes) of a piece of wood as it breaks (at the breaking point) -

- there is a loud 'report' that can be mistaken for pyrotechnics ...

Apply Occam's razor to this, calculate the 'load' snow has on a structure and conclude the obvious: yet another building/roof collapse due to snow load ....

[_Jim]

Opened in 2002, and I would think it would have modern construction.

Yeah, like reduced limits on the ability to support a huge 'snow load'. Engineering with the newer computeized tools can get constructed structures closer and closer to the specified design limits. Go over that value and ... disaster ...

[MarMema]

Lord, we beseech thee to grant them rest in the place of thy rest, where all thy blessed Saints repose, and where the light of thy countenance shineth forever.

We pray for the repose of the souls of these servants of God, departed this life; and for the forgiveness of their every transgression, voluntary and involuntary.

[MarMema]

Too many hard times in Moskva these days. May the Lord give them rest.