Mass held near site of Quebec propane explosion as three remain missing
Members of a grieving community north of Montreal gathered Sunday for a mass in solidarity with the families of three people who remained missing following a fire and explosion at a propane distribution company last week.
Several hundred people were in the pews of the local church as the ceremony began just after 10:30 in St-Roch-de-l'Achigan, Que., about 50 kilometres north of Montreal.
Two employees and a subcontractor are still missing as provincial police continue to comb through the site of Thursday's blast with the help of police arson technicians and forensics specialists.
As of Sunday, police had still not confirmed any deaths or released the names of the victims.
Mayor Sébastien Marcil, who spoke at the service, said the small town is like a family that since Thursday has been "missing some of its members."
He described the wait for answers as "unbearable" for the loved ones of the missing people.
"You can’t imagine how hard it is to not have news about people you love for three days, knowing there’s an explosion and the people you know are there," said Marcil.
Saint-Roch-de-l'Achigan mayor Sebastien Marcil speaks during a mass in Saint-Roch-de-l'Achigan, Que., Sunday, January 15, 2023, in memory of the victims of a propane explosion just outside the town on Thursday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
The local fire department received calls Thursday morning about an explosion and fire at Propane Lafortune, but the risk of further explosions forced firefighters to retreat and they were only able to bring the blaze under control in the evening.
Police have said they do not believe the explosion was a criminal act but have not established what caused it, adding winter weather and the state of the site has complicated the search for victims.
On Sunday, provincial police cars blocked off the road leading past the propane company, which was surrounded by farmer's fields. A number of technicians could be seen in the distance as they continued to sift through the snow and rubble of the levelled building.
People embrace during a mass in Saint-Roch-de-l'Achigan, Que., Sunday, January 15, 2023, in memory of the victims of a propane explosion just outside the town on Thursday, January 12 THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Claude Ritchie, the parish priest involved in Sunday's mass, said ahead of the service that the town is close-knit and many people know each other.
In the wake of a tragedy, "You cannot do many things, but this thing we can do: to be there and tell people they are not alone," he said.
"That we consider their pain, their sorrow, their sadness. We share all this together."
The mass was attended by local and federal politicians, as well as representatives from neighbouring cities.
At least one person at the mass wore a jacket bearing the Lafortune company logo.
People attend a mass in Saint-Roch-de-l'Achigan, Que., Sunday, January 15, 2023, in memory of the victims of a propane explosion just outside the town on Thursday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
France Gibouleau, a resident of the area, said the entire town wanted to come together to support the families who are still "in the unknown," as well as the company owners.
The message she wanted to send was that "we love them, we'll think of them, that it will be a date we'll never forget," she said.
People embrace during a mass in Saint-Roch-de-l'Achigan, Que., Sunday, January 15, 2023, in memory of the victims of a propane explosion just outside the town on Thursday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 15, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Princess Anne to take part in B.C. ceremony bringing new ship into Pacific fleet
Canada's first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel will officially be brought into the Pacific fleet today and Princess Anne, the sister of King Charles, is scheduled to take part in its commissioning ceremony.
NEW Biscuits with possible plastic pieces, metal found in ground pork: Here are the recalls for this week
Here are the latest recalls Canadians should watch out for, according to Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
More than half of Canadians say freedom of speech is under threat, new poll suggests
A new poll suggests a majority of Canadians feel their right to freedom of speech is in danger.
How falling for a stranger she met on a beach led this woman to ditch the U.S. for the French Riviera
Niki Benjamin, from the U.S., had travelled to a paradise island to do some soul searching, and her life ended up going in a very different direction when her dog ran up to a stranger.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Feds giving Toronto more than $104M to host 2026 FIFA World Cup
The federal government will provide Toronto just over $104 million in funding to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Police move in to clear NYU encampment, U.S. campus arrests grow to 2,200 in pro-Palestinian protests
Police moved in to clear an encampment at New York University on Friday at the request of school officials, a move that follows weeks of pro-Palestinian protests at college campuses nationwide that have resulted in nearly 2,200 arrests by police.
Wally, the emotional support alligator once denied entry to a baseball game, is missing
Emotional support animal registrations in the United States reached 115,832 last year, by an industry group’s count. But in the eyes of reptile rescuer Joie Henney, there’s only one: 'Wally Gator.'
Parents of infant who died in wrong-way crash on Ontario's Hwy. 401 were in same vehicle
Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit has released new details about a wrong-way collision in Whitby on Monday night that claimed the lives of four people.