The snow has now fallen, the first tents were being installed on Saturday in Saint-Roch-de-l’Achigan, in order to possibly start a search for potential victims, two days after the fire and the explosions which blew Propane Lafortune buildings. In the municipality, the citizens still do not manage to realize what has just happened.
“A whole section of my adolescence has just left. I will never see that again. But it will remain in my memories, that’s for sure, ”says Sylvain Tourangeau. The man worked for three summers in the ruined factory, when he was only 15 years old. At the time, “the company that owned it was called Transports Belanger et frères, it was good people,” says the man who now lives in Ottawa.
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
Sylvain Tourangeau
Coming to Saint-Roch-de-l’Achigan for personal reasons, the native of the region says he is devastated by the tragedy, while three people, including two Propane Lafortune employees and a subcontractor, are still missing from the call. A heavy explosion was first heard – and felt – for miles around, Thursday around 11 a.m. A fire had spread through the company-owned propane depot, causing explosions. The building was completely destroyed.
According to our information, the first two victims would be Céline Pilon and France Desrosiers, who both worked as secretaries. The third victim, a man, was carrying out work for the company. Officially, the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) does not yet confirm anything about the identity of the victims. No press briefing was also scheduled for Saturday, preliminary work still continuing for the start of research.
On Facebook, Line Pilon, the cousin of Céline Pilon, paid tribute to him. “I was brought up with my cousins and my cousin who lived next door. We played in the same yard and my memories of Céline are her beautiful long hair, her slender waist and that smile. She was so beautiful. I know that everyone who had the privilege of knowing her is grieving today,” she wrote.
The City of Saint-Roch-de-l’Achigan announced on Saturday that a commemorative mass of solidarity will be held on Sunday at the church, for “all the people affected directly or indirectly by the tragedy that occurred on Thursday”.
“It shouldn’t happen”
For Mr. Tourangeau, the important thing is to send courage to the relatives of the victims. “I feel so sorry for the community. It is a real tragedy for them, for the families. It touches me especially for them, who are directly affected. Me, personally, I saw the garage being built. Being here is quite emotional this morning,” continues Mr. Tourangeau, while the police are busy behind him securing the scene, preventing any entry to the site as a security measure.
Not far from there, resident Réal Lamarche, who lives one kilometer from the scene, was taking his daily walk when The Press the encounter. “The morning it happened, I came here as I do every day, maybe a quarter of an hour before the explosion,” he explains.
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
Real Lamarche
When I got home, my daughter explained everything to me. It’s sad and it’s devastating. It’s so unfortunate. It’s a small municipality and that shouldn’t happen, these things. But we are never safe from all that.
Réal Lamarche, resident of Saint-Roch-sur-l’Achigan
He affirms that the hardest part “is the wait” for news and additional information, several security works having to be carried out first before starting the research, in order to ensure in particular the presence of the various products of propane. “We don’t know what will happen. We learn that it can be long, because it’s complicated and there’s the environment. It’s really tricky. The families waiting for that… I wish with all my heart that they recover from that, but I’m not sure it can be, ”he slips.
The Minister of Public Security, François Bonnardel, went to the scene on Friday, saying he was shaken by this “immeasurable tragedy”. “It’s a very difficult scene to see, which shows that it was a whole explosion that occurred,” he explained at a press conference.
At his side, Isabelle Lafortune, co-owner of Propane Lafortune, offered her condolences to the families of the victims, sobs in her voice. She pointed out that psychological help was available to company employees. Support is also offered to the families of the victims, who have all been met.
With Isabelle Ducas, The Press