DUSHANBE , February 27, Asia-Plus - Number of Tajik citizens killed in the Basmanny market roof collapse in Moscow has risen to six people, according to Muhammad Egamzod, a spokesman for the Tajik Embassy in Moscow

Bodies of two of them, the 40-year-old Manzura Mamatqulova and the 41-year-old Malika Mansurova, were flown to Tajikistan yesterday evening, Egamzod said, adding that bodies of the other four Tajiks killed in the market roof collapse will be flown to Tajikistan this week.   

According to Tajik diplomat, Tajiks killed in market roof collapse have already been identified.  Two of them proved to be the Yordgorov twin brothers -- 14-year-old Hasan and Husein.  And the four others are the 33-year Bahrinisso Shrofiddinova, the 40-year-old Manzura Mamatqulova, the 41-year-old Malika Mansurova and the 43-year-old Zuhro Isomova. 

Besides, eleven other Tajiks were injured when the snow-laden roof of the Basmanny market collapsed, the Tajik Embassy spokesman said.  “Three of them, Ghulomjon Mahmadaliyev, Mehrinisso Buriyeva and Muhammadjon Hasanov are in good condition now, and four others, Zohidjon Ahmadaliyev, Qobiljon Mahmadaliyev, Komil Mansurov and Habibullo Saydulloyev, who received mild wounds, have already been out of hospital,” Egamzod said.    

At present, employees of the Embassy and representatives from Tajik Ministry of Labor and Social Security are studying issues of providing assistance to the accident victims and sending dead bodies to Tajikistan .       

As it had been reported earlier, the tragedy occurred on February 23, at 05:50 a.m. Moscow time. The Basmanny market building near the Baumanskaya metro station fully collapsed.  Aside from the roof its reinforced concrete structures also collapsed and the total area of the cave-in is 3,000 square meters.

All rescuer teams from all districts of Moscow were engaged in the search and rescue operation, including specialists from the Tsentrospas unit of the Emergency Situations Ministry.

The investigation is considering three main versions of the market building roof collapse, including violation of exploitation rules, improper fulfillment by the market administration of safety rules and errors in the building design.  The Moscow Prosecutor’s Office instituted criminal proceedings over the accident under Article 109 of the Criminal Code (causing death through negligence) and Article 293 (negligent performance of duty).

According to Russian media, 66 people were killed and some 30 others were injured in the market roof collapse.