“A nameless tragedy”, “a cruel and impossible gesture”: the tragedy of the Ste-Rose educational daycare will leave indelible traces for Laval residents who came to pay tribute to the little victims, early Thursday morning.
“When I understood what the event was, it was total collapse. It’s an untold drama,” says Mélanie, a neighbor at the daycare. Her children saw several ambulances heading for the daycare on Wednesday morning. She cannot hold back her sobs the day after the terrible event. “It’s children. They don’t have to go through this. It is not correct. It’s really not correct. »
Ilham Mirouchi, a mother in the area, did not sleep a wink all night. “I just think about how the kids felt. Why did it happen? »
She slept with her six-year-old son yesterday. “We feel lucky. It is a cruel and impossible gesture that could have touched anyone. »
A command post is erected close to the scene of the tragedy where citizens in tears gather, bouquets of flowers in hand. “Psychosocial workers from Social Emergency and community intervention officers from the Prevention Squad will be on hand to discuss with citizens who feel the need,” reports the Laval Police Department (SPL).
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, THE PRESS
The daycare center was boarded up after the bus was removed.
Several passers-by wipe their tears and let out helpless sighs as they think back to this “senseless” gesture. »
“As soon as we received the call, the dispatchers were able to know that this was an extraordinary situation,” underlines Jean-Pierre Rouleau, of Urgences Santé.
About fifteen Urgences Santé vehicles, including nine ambulances, were mobilized for this intervention involving several children.
Advanced care vehicles have been requested to the scene. The operation required 25 workers.
Prime Minister François Legault will travel to Laval on the scene in the morning.