Rescuers have resumed a search for 10 people following the collapse of a supermarket roof in Riga.

Fifty-two deaths have been confirmed in the disaster and a police spokesman said some 10 families have reported they have missing relatives.

The nation’s President described the disaster as “murder”.

President Andris Berzins said: “This is a case where we need to say clearly that an enormous number of defenceless people were killed, and that’s how we should proceed.”

Some 40 people were wounded, including 13 firefighters, and 23 people remained in hospital yesterday afternoon, police said.

It was the worst accident in the Baltic country since it regained independence in 1991. The government has declared three days of mourning.

Laila Rieksta-Riekstina, head of the state’s child welfare department, told Latvia Radio that 16 children lost parents in the accident. Three of them lost both parents.

Rescue service spokeswoman Viktorija Sembele said some 300 square metres of ruins – approximately one-sixth of the total damaged area – remained to be searched as of yesterday morning.

Ms Sembele said there was a chance more victims could be found in that area, which is particularly dangerous due to the risk of further collapse. Firefighters are working in decreased numbers in that area to minimise the chance of injury.

Rescue workers decided to stop the operation early yesterday and consult with engineers before continuing, she said.

Workers had been creating a garden area and children’s playground on top of the building.

Reports suggests that a large amount of building materials, including bags of soil for the garden, were left in areas of the roof that, according to Riga city officials, could have been vulnerable to heavy loads.

Police have launched an investigation, which could take several weeks to complete.