Deadly Paris Airport Roof Collapse

Sunday, May 23, 2004

(8:46 AM ET) (12:46 GMT)

The Cable News Network

"Some people heard cracks before the accident and there was concrete dust coming from the ceiling. This was a very prestigious hall and it's a very hard day for us today."

PARIS, France -- CNN
At least five people were killed and three others injured when a massive section of a vaulted ceiling collapsed at a new passenger terminal at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport, officials said.

Slabs of concrete and metal came crashing down from the ceiling onto a seated waiting area at about 7 a.m. Sunday (0500 GMT/1 a.m. ET).

Part of the raised terminal structure then collapsed onto airport service vehicles underneath.

The collapse left a hole 50 meters (yards) by 30 meters in the long, tunnel-like building.

"It's like a scene after an earthquake," one firefighter said.

(More: CNN.com / World)

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Dan