Marisela Amador, The Canadian Press
Posted Saturday, January 14, 2023 7:38 PM EST
As a ceiling and wall collapsed onto a woman desperately trying to flee the scene of an explosion at a Quebec propane distribution company, Éric Lizotte could only watch in horror.
The resident of St-Roch-de-l’Achigan, Quebec, whose home is a few meters from Propane Lafortune, said he was trying to save the stranger and anyone else trapped by the explosion on Thursday morning.
Three people are still missing after the blast, which Lizotte said rocked him and left him with indelible images, including from his aborted rescue attempt.
“As I was trying to clear the debris I felt this intense heat. It was like a furnace. It was unbelievable. I put snow on my head to try to compensate for the heat as I “I was trying to get closer to the lady. I heard explosions from all directions,” Lizotte said in an interview Saturday from her home about 50 kilometers north of Montreal.
“I moved about two feet away from her. At that moment, I saw that part of the roof was about to collapse. I hesitated to move forward, then suddenly , it started to crumble, and it took part of a wall with it, falling completely on top of it. And within seconds a fire broke out. I couldn’t do anything, so I got out and I am gone.
Two employees and a contractor are still missing as provincial police continue to investigate the explosion with the assistance of police arson technicians. Hydro-Quebec is also participating in the investigation, according to local authorities.
Police said they did not believe the explosion was foul play, but did not establish what caused it.
Lizotte said he was clearing snow from his van when the explosion happened. He said that although he didn’t hear anything, he saw part of the roof shoot up into the sky.
“I quickly told my partner to call 911, and I got in my other car, and rushed to the site. It took me about 45 seconds,” he said.
Lizotte immediately saw heavy damage in a nearby garage before turning her attention to the entrance to the company’s headquarters.
“Everything fell apart,” he said. “(The explosion) had blown (off) parts of the administrative side.”
The local fire department received calls Thursday morning about an explosion and fire at Propane Lafortune, but the risk of further explosions forced firefighters to retreat and they were unable to contain the fire. fire only in the evening.
At a news conference on Friday, authorities said it could be several days before they complete work on the razed building.
Quebec Provincial Police spokesman Sgt. Éloïse Cossette described the scene as complicated.
“We will continue to search the scene with our specialists,” Cossette said. “We still have three people missing, at least.”
Neither police nor Propane Lafortune provided updates Saturday on the status of the missing workers.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on January 14, 2023.
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This story was produced with the financial assistance of Meta and the Canadian Press News Fellowship.
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