(Montreal) The long and meticulous dismantling of the second and third floors of the building in Old Montreal which was ravaged by fire last Thursday had been underway for a few hours on Monday morning.
The Montreal Fire Department (SSIM) made the announcement during a press scrum held at 8 a.m. in front of the building located at the intersection of rue du Port and Place d’Youville.
A little over 12 hours earlier, around 6:45 p.m. Sunday, the body of a first victim was extricated from the building. The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) reported on Monday that six other people remained missing.
The fire also injured nine people, including two who were hospitalized in a burn unit.
The head of the SSIM division, Martin Guilbault, specified Monday that several stages of the dismantling of the building will be necessary in order to give safe access to the premises to the workers. A bucket truck, cranes and other equipment were deployed to facilitate the work of police and firefighters, as well as forensic science laboratory technicians. Complex work awaits them, they say.
Excavations in the rubble will continue, in the hope of finding other victims as soon as possible. The SPVM ensures that it is in communication with each of the families of these missing persons.
Inspector David Shane, of the SPVM, assured that the authorities would provide an update on operations every morning at 8 a.m., as long as necessary, and that other communications will be made if necessary throughout the work. dismantling the building and digging through the rubble.