Twenty-eight bodies have so far been recovered from the ruins of Transvaal Park, an amusement park in southeast Moscow, while 17 people are still reported missing.

The 5,000sq m roof above the park’s water complex – made of glass and concrete – collapsed on Saturday evening while over 1,300 people were at the site.

Moscow mayor, Yuri Luzhkov, who on Sunday announced to Russian television that “there was now no hope of finding anyone alive”, ruled out initial reports of a possible terrorist attack.

Giant generators were brought to the site by officials to warm anyone who might be trapped in the rubble, as five large cranes were erected to move chunks of debris, some weighing hundreds of kilos.

Transvaal Park was built in 18 months and opened for visitors in 2002. Yevropeiskiye Tekhnologii, a Russian company, operated the project, which was overseen by Turkish firm, Kocak Insaat – responsible for collecting the companies involved in the actual construction process.

Both Kocak Insaat and Sergei Kiselyov & Partners – the architects behind the design – have had their licences frozen by Moscow officials until the cause of the tragedy can be determined.

The park employed a staff of 500 and was able to host up to 2,000 people at one time.

Facilities included an indoor lagoon and river, complete with artificial waves for surfing and a waterfall.

The Park, biggest of its kind in Eastern Europe, also had two 82-meter slides and a 120-meter water tube that begun 13 meters above water level.

Despite the high cost of tickets, Transvaal attracted around 450,000 people in its first year.