LAC-MEGANTIC -- Two more bodies have been found in the rubble in Lac-Megantic, bringing the death toll to 35.

Fifteen people are still missing, as officials get set to demolish two unstable buildings in order to continue the search for victims of last weekend’s tragic train derailment.

Surete du Quebec Lt. Michel Brunet held a news conference Sunday morning to give notice of the demolitions so residents in 6,000-person community are not alarmed by the sight of buildings collapsing.

He said the buildings are located in the town’s commercial area, close to the centre of the derailment site.

Brunet said the risk of the two buildings collapsing is too high to allow search crews to enter the sites.

“We have to search these buildings, but we cannot do it right now,” Brunet said. “It’s too dangerous for everyone.”

Architect Gunnar Skjaevestad, who had originally designed buildings and facades in the downtown core, toured the destruction Saturday, and said it was difficult to see the buildings be torn down.

“It's a very devastating reaction to have to that because it’s so total,” he said, adding that rebuilding will give the town tremendous hope.

“And I think it's important from a moralistic and psychological view that the town be rebuilt as quickly as possible,” he said.

A mechanical device will be used to demolish the buildings and no explosives will be set off.

“A lot of searching has already been done around the (area),” Brunet said. “We need to go inside to see what’s in it, and we need to do that safely.”

Late Saturday, police confirmed the names of seven of the victims. They are:

  • Frederic Boutin, 19;
  • Kathy Clusiault, 24;
  • Elodie Turcotte, 18;
  • Yannick Bouchard, 36;
  • Karine Lafontaine, 35;
  • Maxime Dubois, 27;
  • Melissa Roy, 29.

On Thursday, the coroner's office had confirmed 93-year-old Eliane Parenteau -- who lived alone, close to the tracks -- also perished in the disaster.

Police are expected to provide an updated death toll after the area around the two buildings is searched.

It’s been a little over one week since the devastating train derailment took place.

On July 6, just after 1 a.m., a Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Inc. train came barrelling into Lac-Megantic, skipped the tracks and exploded into a series of massive fire balls. The 72-car train was carrying crude oil destined for New Brunswick.

The train had been parked in the nearby town of Nantes, about 12 kilometres away. It was left unattended, with the engineer at a hotel for the night.

 

With a report from CTV Montreal