Death toll in Moscow pool roof collapse rises to 26

Rescuers in Moscow are searching for survivors following the collapse of a glass roof at a city water park last night, killing…

Rescuers in Moscow are searching for survivors following the collapse of a glass roof at a city water park last night, killing at least 26 people and injuring more than 100.

It is thought that poor construction or a build up of snow on the roof caused the incident at the Transvaal Park in south-west Moscow.

According to Russia's Emergency Ministry four children were among the dead. Emergencies Minister Mr Sergei Shoigu, saying about 17 people were unaccounted for.

He said that the 700 rescuers stopped work every two hours to listen for signs of life. "We still don't know the fate of about 17 people. No one is losing hope," Shoigu said on local television.

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"It's time to stop this chaos and establish control when these kinds of sites are being built," he added, in a reference to the rush of new construction in the Russian capital.

With the temperature at just below zero, heat cannons were used to blast the site with warm air to keep any trapped survivors from freezing to death.

Minister Shoigu said the search was hampered by shards of glass cutting the feet of sniffer dogs.

He said at least four children died and at least 110 people were injured. More than 420 people were in the area where the roof gave in and crashed 20 metres (60 feet) to the ground, and 1,300 visitors were in the entire complex, Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov said.