Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis is resigning in the wake of a deadly supermarket roof collapse , his spokesman said Wednesday . Dombrovskis is `` taking political responsibility for the tragedy , '' spokesman Martin Punke told CNN . The roof collapse last Thursday in the Zolitude neighborhood of the capital , Riga , left more than 50 people dead -- the deadliest incident in Latvia since the country became independent in 1991 . Dombrovskis , who has been prime minister since March 2009 , is expected to address the nation in a news conference Wednesday afternoon . His decision to step down came after a meeting with the president , according to Latvia 's national news agency , LETA . The news agency quotes Dombrovskis as thanking Latvians for their support during the economic and financial crisis and apologizing `` for all that we have failed to achieve . '' A total of 54 people , including three firefighters , died in the collapse and several dozen were injured , LETA said . In the wake of the tragedy , President Andris Berzins told Latvian television that `` nature could not be blamed '' and that those involved needed to think about what they had done , so that action could be taken . `` This incident is basically the mass murder of a large number of defenseless civilians . We must act accordingly , '' Berzins said . The cause of the disaster is still under investigation . However , Riga Mayor Nils Usakovs told CNN last week that authorities think building materials stored on the roof caused it to collapse .
Prime Minister Jonas Dombrovskis announces his resignation over the roof collapse . More than 100 people died when the supermarket roof came crashing down last week . Dombrovskis is scheduled to address the nation Wednesday . His spokesman says he is ` ` taking political responsibility for the tragedy ''