LAC-MEGANTIC—Twenty-eight people are confirmed dead and seven more have been identified Friday by Lac-Megantic investigators, who are putting their “lives at risk” at the site of the train accident.
Provincial police inspector Michel Forget increased the body count from the fatal derailment, although investigators still expect to final tally to reach at least 50 people.
Forget said the crime scene and its contaminated soil have made the investigation risky for those on the ground, as the contaminated air had forced investigators to “change our strategy.”
“Fumes are coming from the contaminated soil and it’s putting our lives in danger,” Forget said in reference to the Benzene gas fumes emanating from the soil where 70 wagons of crude oil blew up on Saturday. “We have re-oriented our searches of the area to make sure we could continue our searches and ensure everyone can work in a safe (environment).”
Seven victims were identified after 93-year-old Eliane Parenteau was the first official fatality named by investigators on Thursday. Forget said the coroner’s office would release the latest victim names 24 hours after meeting with their families.
The SQ has also incorporated crime scene technicians from Montreal and Quebec City police forces to accelerate the forensic search.
It is nearly one week since the driverless train came off the tracks in the small town in the Eastern Townships, sending fireballs high into the sky from an explosion that decimated the historic city’s downtown core.
On Friday, police also cancelled a candlelight vigil saying that having hundreds of people show up to what they consider a crime scene would cause chaos.
