63 people who were killed in this town when a roof over an exhibition hall collapsed last weekend in the worst disaster in recent Polish history.
Archbishop Damian Zimon, who opened the requiem mass in Katowice Cathedral, read a special message addressed to the mourners by Pope Benedict XVI. The pontiff said he was "united in prayer with the tragedy stricken families" and conveyed his "blessings to all who took part in the rescue operation," Polish radio reported.
In May he plans to travel to Poland, which is predominately Catholic, and his program includes a visit to the concentration camp at Auschwitz for prayers, which is seen as significant because Benedict was born in Germany.
Friday’s mass followed three days of national mourning in a country where many children have now become orphans and families were wiped out. The service was also attended by Prime minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz, cabinet members and other politicians from the region. Katowice Cathedral, about 6 kilometers (4 miles) from the accident site was decorated with flags of the fire-fighters and policemen involved in the rescue operation.
FREEZING TEMPERATURES
The rescue in freezing temperatures became household topics, with thousands of people offering to donate blood to the 170 injured survivors. Caritas a church-led charity organization so far raised about $480,000 to help needy survivors and family members of victims, Polish radio said.
Speaking at the mass Father Marek Pryga recalled how the metal roof of the football-pitched sized hall collapsed without warning last Saturday, January 28, as hundreds of participants were gathered for an international show of racing pigeons.
"It is still buried under the ruins of the hall. At a place where so many lives were taken," said Pryga. The service ended with a three minute wailing of alarm sirens. The fatalities include citizens of Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Belgium and the Netherlands, Reuters news agency reported.
Those who survived including witness Francis Nolmans from Belgium, recalled terrifying moments.
"Suddenly the roof began to crack," he said. "It came down as a wave. There were people sitting in the middle of the hall and most likely they will be in the worst situation. All people from our exhibit and most other Belgians I knew, all together about 50, have reported they are safe now, so I hope at least with them everything is fine."
SURVIVAL MIRACLE
Another Belgian man, Hubert De Ceuninck, suggested his team of exhibitors’ survival seemed a miracle — they were walking away just before the roof collapsed on the area where they stood. "We had an exhibition in the middle of the hall and because it was quiet we decided to look to the other exhibits."
De Ceunink explained he was told by the fire brigade workers that the loud music of a huge orchestra may have "added to the vibrations of the already snow covered roof, which eventually collapsed."
Initial reports suggested the weight of snow on the roof had caused the accident Saturday, January 28, but a lawyer for the company has reportedly that runs the hall has reportedly said the snow had been cleared. Investigators are checking reports that several emergency exits were locked and that survivors had to smash windows to escape the tumbling metal girders.
The architect of the building was reportedly being questioned by police in hospital after trying to commit suicide, two days following the disaster. Officials, meanwhile, have warned that more bodies may be found in the twisted metal of the exhibition. (With reports from BosNewsLife’s Stefan J. Bos. Part of his report also aired on Voice Of America (VOA) network).
