Ceiling collapses in supermarket sparking investigation

A ceiling in a Maxima supermarket has collapsed in Valmiera, north eastern Latvia after a customer accidentally knocked down a signboard.

An investigation has been launched in to the cause of the collapse at the supermarket on Apina Street on Jan. 15 whilst no one was hurt, say state fire and rescue services. 

A spokesperson for Maxima Latvija explained: "The security immediately cordoned off the area and called in technical services, and stores in the vicinity were temporarily shut down to make sure that customers were not in danger. Technical services concluded after repairs that the entire section of the drop ceiling had to be replaced. When they started to dismantle it, the entire section fell down in the area that had been cordoned off."

Fire and Rescue Services revealed that they only head about the collapse after reports emerged in the media. 

Because this was not a major repair job, the State and Fire Service's assistance was not necessary, the spokesperson  added.

"No one was injured and, taking into consideration that no threat was found to exist, and that the drop ceiling was being repaired in a limited area, a decision was made that the supermarket would continue normal business."

The Maxima supermarket has been under scrutiny since 54 people died after the roof of the Maxima supermarket in Riga's Zolitude neighborhood caved in on November 21 last year.