Body of one of two missing Quebec firefighters found
Quebec provincial police say they’ve discovered a physique locally northeast Quebec City the place two volunteer firefighters had been swept away by floodwaters throughout a rescue mission on Monday.
Police noticed the physique from a helicopter within the St-Urbain, Que., space simply earlier than 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sgt. Beatrice Dorsainville advised reporters, including that they’d watch for a coroner to verify the particular person’s identification. The drive issued a news launch saying it seems the physique is likely one of the two lacking males.
Multiple media have reported that the 2 lacking firefighters had been Christopher Lavoie, 23, and Regis Lavoie, 55, who had been reportedly not associated.
“The search is currently continuing in the area to try and find the second person who remains missing,” Dorsainville mentioned, including that search and rescue groups embrace police divers and officers in a helicopter, on boats and patrolling on land.
More than 90 millimetres of rain has fallen on St-Urbain since Saturday, Environment Canada mentioned, including that greater than 60 mm of rain has fallen on close by Baie St-Paul, the place officers declared a state of emergency earlier this week and the place about 600 folks had been pressured from their houses.
Flooding has additionally been reported within the Lanaudiere and Laurentians areas, and in western Quebec. The Public Security Department has mentioned a half-dozen communities throughout the province had declared states of emergency because of the heavy rains.
Earlier Wednesday, Quebec Premier Francois Legault visited Baie St-Paul, the place flooding has washed out roads and left houses remoted. He additionally spoked in regards to the lacking firefighters, one among whom he mentioned was a person in his 50s who took his personal boat to assist a pair whose dwelling was surrounded by water. The different man, Legault mentioned, was “a young boy of 23 years.”
“Twenty-three years,” Legault repeated after a brief pause. “It’s an infinite sadness.”
Legault requested folks to not rush to judgment about the reason for their deaths. Firefighters and first responders, he mentioned, “do an essential but risky job. Obviously, we try to minimize these risks as much as possible, but we can say thank you for their courage.”
Psychological assist and monetary support could be provided to residents of the realm, he added.
“There are also people here who I spoke with who have lost what they built all their lives,” Legault mentioned, including that many have misplaced household houses that had been handed down by means of generations. “We will be there to help them.”
Legault toured the broken city and spoke to residents who advised him they got 5 minutes to evacuate. Some folks requested the premier what support could be provided to them, explaining that their insurance coverage didn’t cowl flood injury.
Government officers had been scheduled to fulfill with residents Thursday night to clarify the obtainable authorities applications to assist folks relocate, restore broken houses or exchange property.
In the long-term, Legault mentioned, the federal government would have a look at the best way to make the area extra resilient to extreme flooding, which he mentioned used to happen as soon as each 100 years however which is changing into extra widespread due to local weather change.
Some areas which can be notably vulnerable to flooding, nevertheless, won’t be rebuilt, he warned. “Maybe we’ll have to ask some people to move; in the meantime, we’ll help the people and we’ll work with the mayors.”
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