Quebec provincial police said Friday that three workers were still missing 24 hours after an explosion at a fuel distribution company in the Lanodier area.
At a press conference, police said snowy conditions and the presence of “dangerous products” were complicating the search for the missing workers. There are no confirmed deaths.
“We cannot say for sure that we have only three victims in this event. We are in contact with the families of the victims. We offer help and are very concerned about any questions you might have. And we try to inform them step by step what we do every day,” said Eloise Cosset, spokeswoman for the Sûreté du Québec (SQ).
The SQ officially took over the investigation into the explosion that rocked the small municipality of St-Roch-de-l’Achigan, about 50 kilometers north of Montreal.
Isabelle Lafortune, a member of the family that owns Propane Lafortune, whose facilities were destroyed in the explosion, confirmed Friday that two employees and a subcontractor were involved.
Fighting back tears, she told the media: “I would like to express my sincere condolences to the families of the victims who are still missing. This is an extremely difficult test for us, for the first time in 67 years.”
Explosion at a propane company in St-Roch de l’Achigan (photo: Michel Varin)
She added that her family had created psychological support for the officers and heartily thanked the emergency services as well as her fellow citizens.
“I also want to thank the community of Saint-Roch-de-l’Achigan for their support. We saw a beautiful solidarity quickly established.”
SEARCH WILL TAKE ‘DAYS’
The explosion happened at 11:17 a.m. Thursday at a family business on Rte. 339, near Saint-Régis Road, which offers propane services in the Lanaudière region.
It is too early to say what caused the blast. However, experts are investigating the possibility that a truck in the facility’s garage exploded, CTV News has learned. The search could take “days” as police scrutinize the site, the SQ said.
After seeing the damage at the blast site with his own eyes, Mayor Sébastien Marcille said “the explosion was very big” and that it hit the community “right in the heart”.
Mayor Sebastien Marcille speaks to the media after an explosion at a propane company, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, in Saint-Roch-de-L’Achigan, Que. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiortz
Police intend to erect a large tent to protect the scene from the weather, but Cossette insisted there are “no criminal elements, no suspicious elements” so far.
Quebec’s Minister of Public Security, François Bonnardel, arrived in St-Roch-de-l’Achigan on Friday morning.
“We saw the scene this morning. It’s quite catastrophic to see this fire, this explosion. So we are here to support the community, family and friends,” the minister said.
Because the company is located near the Achigan River, Cossette praised the work of firefighters who installed trenches to limit the flow of pollutants into the water.
The SQ sergeant said the investigation will be very complex and that experts at the scene of the fire will be assisted by pathologists and investigators from and that officers will be assisted by experts from CNESST, Quebec’s occupational health and safety board.
50 FIREFIGHTERS CAME TO THE SCENE
The SQ said police were unable to access the site for most of the day on Thursday due to the fire, which was not brought under control until later this evening.
It took a team of around 50 firefighters from St-Roch-de-l’Achigan, Repentigny, Rawdon, Ste-Julienne and St-Lin-Laurentides to extinguish the flames.
Firefighters work at the scene after an explosion at a propane company, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, in Saint-Roch-de-L’Achigan, Que. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiortz
Fire Chief Francois Thivier said the first crews to arrive could not intervene immediately because of the risk of explosions.
Officials were especially cautious because of safety risks and concerns that oil or gas could enter a nearby river. A drone was used to assess the risk so firefighters could continue their operation, Thivierge said.
SEVERAL HOUSES EVACUATED
Buildings within a kilometer radius of the blast were evacuated on Thursday, affecting hundreds of residents.
Approximately 50 people were able to return by 6:30 p.m
A support center is available for those who need it in the basement of St-Roch-de-l’Achigan Church, and a hotline has been set up for citizens seeking information about the ongoing fire: 514-347-7041.
In the area lives Suzanne Lafortune, who has nothing to do with the business.
She said she was evacuated from her home after the explosion and that her son rushed to the scene to help.
“I thought it was an accident because I heard the explosion and I looked and I saw a big fire and my daughter called 911,” she said, describing the dramatic scene to reporters Thursday afternoon.
“We cannot stay in our home because it is very dangerous.
I was on the side of the SQ to point out the explosion in a propane plant in St-Roch. The investigation could determine the circumstances leading to this tragic incident. Les citoyens peuvent compter sur le support de leur gouvernement en ces temps difficiles. pic.twitter.com/dzgZ1OwNxi
— Francois Bonnardel (@fbonnardelCAQ) January 13, 2023
Karin Lamarche also lives nearby.
“It was shaking, I thought something had fallen on the house,” she told The Canadian Press, recounting how the explosion shook her home.
“We know a little bit of the people who work there, we’ve heard like everyone else that people are missing,” Lamarche added. “It’s unfortunate, it’s sad. It touches me because it’s a company that’s next door.”
Speaking at a news conference Thursday afternoon, Mayor Marcille tearfully addressed the approximately 5,000 residents of his community.
“My thoughts are with those near and far who have been affected by this incident,” he said.
With files from CTV’s Lillian Roy and The Canadian Press.
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