66 dead in Poland roof collapse

Janusz Skulich, head of the rescue operations, said 65 bodies were identified and it is unlikely that any more victims would be found.

The number of people killed in the collapse of an exhibition hall roof in southern Poland has risen to 66, rescue officials confirmed on Sunday.

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Janusz Skulich, the head of the rescue operations, said 65 bodies were identified and one more was still in the rubble. It is unlikely that any more victims would be found, he added.

"The rescue phase of the operation is over," said Kazimierz Krzowski, the head of the national fire brigade, at a news conference at the scene in Chorzow, in southern Poland.

Another 141 people were injured when the snow-covered roof collapsed at 1615 GMT on Saturday in the hall near Katowice, where 500 people had gathered for a racing pigeon show.

The Polish presidential office said there were some foreigners among the victims.

As rescue work has concluded, cranes will be brought in to gradually pull down the rest of the construction, officials said.