CHORZOW (Poland), Jan 29: Rescuers abandoned a freezing search for survivors on Sunday after the snow-laden roof of an exhibition hall in southern Poland collapsed during a racing pigeon show, killing at least 66 people and injuring more than 140.

After a bitterly cold night when temperatures plummeted to minus 17 degrees Celsius, cries emerging from the twisted sheet-metal wreckage died into silence.

“The rescue phase of the operation is over,” the head of the national fire brigade, Kazimierz Krzowski, told a news conference at the scene.

“The chances of finding a survivor are close to nought.”

Heavy machinery was brought in to clear the debris.

At least 200 people were attending the racing pigeon exhibition when catastrophe struck.

“We heard a terrible noise and then the whole roof collapsed,” 60-year-old Belgian vet Henk Weerde said as rescue workers led him to an ambulance, his head covered in blood.

President Lech Kaczynski declared a day of national mourning.

“Sixty-five bodies have been identified, and a 66th body is still in the rubble,” said Janusz Skulich, head of rescue operations. Officials earlier said 141 people were injured.

“It’s unlikely that there are any more victims,” he added.

The last survivor to be pulled from the wreckage was found at 10:00 pm (2100 GMT) on Saturday night.

Marek Brodzki, a surgeon in charge of an 18-person medical team at the site, said the sheet metal of the building’s remains had acted like a freezer.—AFP