The top floor of a five-story residential building in the Torņakalns district of Rīga, Bauskas street, collapsed on Friday, January 2nd afternoon, eyewitnesses and Latvian Television reported. There has been one casualty – an employee of the gas emergency service Gaso.
The State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD) confirms that a call was received at 15:20 to Bauskas Street and rescuers are currently working at the scene. According to initial information, a structural collapse has occurred on the upper floors of an apartment building. People are currently being evacuated from the building.
Upon arrival at the scene, the Emergency Medical Service (NMPD) confirmed the death of one person. Assistance was provided to three people, two of whom were taken to a medical facility.
Neighbours told Latvian Television that a resident of a fifth-floor apartment had been doing renovations himself. The neighbours smelled gas and called the emergency services. When the emergency services arrived and their employees climbed the stairs, there was an explosion.
Initial information from the State Police indicates that an unidentified person may have dismantled the gas pipe, causing the explosion. The circumstances of the incident are currently being investigated.
Gaso reported that at 14:58, the Gaso Emergency Service received information about a gas smell in the stairwell of a residential building at Bauskas Street 15 in Rīga. The team arrived at the scene at 15:05 p.m. Upon inspecting the building, Gaso employees detected a gas concentration near one of the apartments on the 5th floor of the building.
The person in the apartment opened the door, but upon seeing the Gaso employees, immediately closed the door, preventing the Gaso specialists from entering the apartment.
Gaso employees began to take urgent safety measures. The gas supply to the stairwell and the building was immediately shut off. As Gaso employees had reasonable suspicions of illegal activities involving the building’s gas pipeline, the State Fire and Rescue Service and the State Police were immediately called.
While the work was being carried out, with one of the Gaso employees in the stairwell of the building, an explosion occurred in an apartment on the 5th floor. As a result of the explosion, the Gaso employee died at the scene.
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