An investigation has been launched into Monday's tragic accident in Polish ski resort in Bukowina Tatrzańska. Strong wind tore a roof off a ski rental building and blew it straight at a family of four. As a result, mother and her two daughters died, and the father was taken to a hospital in a state of shock. County construction supervision authority informed on Tuesday the building had been erected without permit and done in a rough and ready fashion.
The tragedy took place before 11am on Monday at a parking lot next to the upper station of the Rusiński-ski lift in Bukowina Tatrzańska. Strong gust of wind ripped a roof off a ski rental shop. The roof then fell straight on four people. Despite resuscitation a 52-year-old mother and her 15-year-old daughter died at the scene. The woman's second daughter, a 21-year-old, was taken to a hospital in Nowy Targ, where she died later that day.
The father and husband of the deceased women was taken to a hospital in a state of shock. A fifth victim of the accident, a 16-year-boy - a friend of the family, was also hospitalised after sustaining injuries to his head and shoulder. Already during the first examination of the scene, the prosecutor said the construction of the temporary ski rental shack was "faulty". It was set up on a boarded-up truck trailer with too-loosely attached tin roof. Local authorities told Polish Press Agency the structure had not been registered and thus had no permission to be erected. Barbara Bogdanowicz from Regional Prosecutor's Office in Zakopane said witnesses, including the father and husband of the victims, had been questioned. "Other witnesses are also being questioned" - she added.
Due to strong wind more resorts decided to switch off ski lifts on Tuesday.
Autorka/Autor: gf
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, Reuters, PAP