Official death toll climbs to 19 after Quebec seniors' home fire; 13 still missing

Firefighters and police officers, some on their hands and knees, braved bitter cold for yet another day to find more bodies in the rubble of a seniors' home that was engulfed in flames last week.

Surete du Quebec confirmed Wednesday that 19 people are now confirmed dead and 13 remain missing after the blaze that ravaged Residence du Havre in L'Isle-Verte in eastern Quebec early last Thursday.

"We will keep going until all 32 people have been found," said Surete du Quebec Lt. Michel Brunet the day before.

A police investigator slips on the ice as they search through the frozen rubble of a seniors residence in L'Isle-Verte, Que. Friday, Jan. 24, 2014. (Ryan Remiorz / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Four people have been formally identified by the coroner's office so far. They are Angéline Guichard, 88, Marie-Lauréat Dubé, 82, Louis-Philippe Roy, 89 and Juliette Saindon, 95.

Authorities say they are satisfied with the progress of their work during the last six days.

Weather has been a major hurdle, forcing crews to take regular breaks to warm up from the bone-chilling cold.

Special machines also had to be brought in to melt thick ice that coated the ruins after the fire. Police have had to approach the rubble carefully, not just to avoid harming any bodies within the structure but also to preserve evidence that may allow investigators to determine a cause for the blaze.

About 65 per cent of the site has been examined. Brunet said it is difficult to say how long it will take to complete the effort because large hunks of debris have to be removed carefully.

The delicacy of the effort was reflected in the large construction shovels that have been brought in which carefully scratched at the ground to remove rubble.

Smaller tools such as rakes, brooms and spades were also being used by the workers, who also include pathologists from the Quebec coroner's office.

Surete du Quebec spokesperson Ann Mathieu says the searches are progressing well and about 50 people are combing the rubble of the building in teams.

On Tuesday, media were granted increased access to the remnants of the Residence du Havre to see the efforts in the community about 240 kilometres northeast of Quebec City.

Health and social services officials also said six people remain in hospital. Nine others have found new homes and five people are expected to be relocated on Wednesday.

Surete du Quebec also said the public has responded to their requests for any photos or videos taken of the fire and they will begin sifting through them in the coming days.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is among those who are expected to attend a commemorative ceremony in L'Isle-Verte this coming Saturday.

Thursday 30 January 2014

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