Three people are still missing after an explosion at a propane dispenser in a small town north of Montreal on Thursday.
The blast that rocked Propane Lafortune, a family-owned store that sells propane and heating oil in Saint-Roch-de-L’Achigan, Que., ignited fuel tanks shortly before 11:30 a.m. Thursday. It sparked a fire that forced the evacuation of nearby homes, drew firefighters from across the region and took hours to extinguish.
Isabelle Lafortune, co-owner of Propane Lafortune, spoke to reporters Friday, a day after an explosion destroyed the company’s store in Saint-Roch-de-L’Achigan, Que. (Valeria Corey-Manocchio/CBC)
Isabelle Lafortune, who co-owns Propane Lafortune with her sister, told reporters gathered in Saint-Roch-de-L’Achigan on Friday that her family was in shock.
“I want to express my sincere sympathy to the families of those who are still missing,” she said. “This is an extremely difficult challenge for us. This is the first time in 67 years.”
Lafortune said two of the missing are employees of Propane Lafortune and one is a subcontractor.
Investigators from the Sûreté du Québec, Quebec’s provincial police, have begun searching the scene of the fire to determine how it started. But snow from a winter storm, large amounts of debris and the possibility of igniting other flammable materials hampered their progress.
The mayor spoke after Quebec City was rocked by an explosion
Mayor Sebastien Marcille speaks as emergency crews respond to an explosion at a propane plant in Saint-Roch-de-l’Achigan, Que.
“We are meeting with witnesses, trying to get as much information as possible,” said Sûreté du Québec spokeswoman Eloise Cosset. “Nothing points to a criminal element, but I can’t say more about the reasons, not at this stage, because of the devastation and the work we still have to do.”
Cosette said it would likely take several days before investigators could confirm the identities of the three victims, who are still officially called “missing,” although he said police did not expect to find any survivors or injured in the rubble.
“I know people want it to be faster,” she said, “but we have no choice — we’re working with the leadership of the provincial forensics lab — to do a thorough investigation. It will take a few days.”
Although investigators have not completely ruled out the possibility of more than three people being found, Cossette said they have received no information indicating there will be a “fourth or fifth victim.”
Sebastien Marcille, the mayor of Saint-Roch-de-L’Achigan, said the delay in learning the fate of the workers was difficult for the city’s residents.
“It’s very difficult to go through what they’re going through right now because there’s a wait and the wait is going to be long,” he said.
Propane Lafortune was part of the fabric of Saint-Roch-de-L’Achigan, Marcille said. Everyone in town knew or had some connection to the family.
Since the explosion, Marcil said messages of support have been pouring in.
The explosion at the Quebec fuel distributor was felt for miles
Officials say at least one person is missing as of Thursday afternoon after an explosion at a fuel distributor in the small town of Saint-Roch-de-L’Achigan, Que.
Francois Bonnardel, Quebec’s public security minister, and Caroline Proulx, who is the minister responsible for the Lanodier region, were in Saint-Roch-de-L’Achigan on Friday to “support the community,” Bonnardel said.
The Quebec Propane Association released a statement on social media in support of Propane Lafortune. “Our thoughts are with the employees who are still missing and their families,” the association said in a statement.
Quebec’s environment ministry said an emergency response team was on the scene Thursday to help contain toxic runoff from the fuel fire in the nearby Achigan River. “Inspections are underway this morning to assess the situation in order to take further measures if necessary,” the ministry said in a statement.
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