(Quebec) The population of the municipalities of Minganie, on the North Shore, which is isolated due to the abrupt and recent closure of the Touzel bridge, earlier this week, on route 138, is invited Thursday by the authorities to limit its consumption of goods and fuel to essential needs, in order to ensure an equitable distribution of available resources.
The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility specifies that measures are in preparation to ensure the supply of goods and the transport of people. Details will be transmitted, we write, as soon as possible.
People in need of temporary accommodation are invited to go to the Center socio-récréatif de Sept-Îles or the Havre-Saint-Pierre fire station.
The ministry repeats Thursday that health and social services are maintained in Minganie. There is currently no problem with the availability of supplies or medication.
For laboratory tests, the Côte-Nord Health and Social Services Center (CISSS) organizes air transportation. Some samples that cannot be transported this Thursday will have to be taken back.
The Basse-Côte-Nord medical evacuation plane can be used in case of urgent evacuation needs. For evacuations to Quebec or Montreal, the government aircraft EVAQ can be used as usual.
The CISSS is also evaluating the possibilities for non-urgent appointments outside.
The decision to close the Touzel bridge was taken after a nacelle inspection revealed a major crack. The bridge is located in Rivière-au-Tonnerre.
Minganie has about 6,500 people in 10 communities.