Roof collapses at crowded hall with 500 inside

The roof of a trade hall in the southern Polish city of Katowice has collapsed while some 500 people were inside, police said today.

The roof is likely to have collapsed from the weight of snow, Katowice police spokesman Janusz Jonczyk said. No further details were immediately known but Jonczyk said that intensive rescue efforts were under way.

At least 30 people were injured in the collapse at around 5.30pm (1630 GMT), police said.

Some 30 people were taken quickly to the hospital, and Jonczyk said that intensive rescue efforts were under way. The conditions of the injured were not immediately available.

“There could be even up to 500 people inside,” Jonczyk said in a telephone interview. “More details will be given later.”

The hall in the Bytkow district of the city has been hosting a carrier pigeon exhibition, Jonczyk said.

“We have no number of victims right now,” he said.