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Deadly fire at Quebec home for the elderly Deadly fire at L'Isle-Verte home for the elderly
(about 2 hours later)
At least three people have died and 30 more are reported missing after a fire tore through an old people's home in Quebec, officials have said. As many as 31 elderly and infirm Canadians are missing and three are confirmed dead after a fire destroyed an old people's home in Quebec.
The fire at the 52-unit residence in L'Isle-Verte, 140 miles (225km) east of Quebec City, was first reported about 00:30 local time (05:30 GMT). Prime Minister Stephen Harper said there was little doubt the loss of life at Residence du Havre in L'Isle-Verte would be "considerable".
Residence du Havre, home to about 50-60 elderly people, was completely destroyed. Several people were injured. The blaze was first reported about 00:30 local time (05:30 GMT), 140 miles (225km) east of Quebec City.
A local police official said rescuers still hoped to find missing residents. Many of the residents used wheelchairs and walkers, officials said.
"We hope for the best," Sgt Audrey-Annie Bilodeau told reporters, adding about 20 people were transported safely from the Resident du Havre. Several fire departments from around the region were called to the town of 1,400 to help extinguish the fire. As they battled the blaze, the firefighters saw and heard people in the building whom they were unable to save.
Emergency crews were still considering their efforts a rescue mission, she said, searching for the missing residents, some who may be with family. It was "a night from hell", local chief firefighter Yvon Charron told the Canadian Press.
"We hope that the number is going to go down." Rescuers were able to save about 20 of the home's 50-60 residents, three of whom were injured.
As the sun rose over the ruined home, now covered in a layer of ice from the fire hoses, officials said they hoped at least some of the missing had been visiting family.
"We hope for the best," police Sgt Audrey-Annie Bilodeau told reporters.
'Night from hell''Night from hell'
L'Isle-Verte's acting Mayor Ginette Caron told reporters that most residents at the home used wheelchairs or walkers. Some had Alzheimer's disease. Only five residents were fully autonomous, she said. Most of the residents were over 75 years old, and 37 were over 85 years old. Many were infirm and suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and only five were fully mobile and autonomous, L'Isle-Verte's acting Mayor Ginette Caron told reporters.
Most of the residents were over 75 years old, and 37 were over 85 years.
"All our thoughts are with the families, the people affected by this ordeal," Ms Caron said."All our thoughts are with the families, the people affected by this ordeal," Ms Caron said.
Several fire departments from around the region were called to the town of 1,400 to help extinguish the fire. Witnesses described scenes of horror, watching the building burn and knowing elderly residents were trapped inside.
As firefighters worked to stop the fire, they were also fighting temperatures of -19C (-2F) and blowing winds. Mario Michaud, who lives across the street, told the local newspaper Info Dimanche he watched a man try but fail to rescue his mother, who was shouting for help from a second-storey balcony.
Local chief firefighter Yvon Charron called it "a night from hell", the Canadian Press reported. "She burned to death," Mr Michaud said.
Mario Michaud, who lives across the street, told the local newspaper Info Dimanche he called emergency services after he saw smoke in the building.
"The fire had started on the second floor," Mr Michaud said. "I saw the firefighters and they got to work. A woman on the second floor was shouting and she went out on to the balcony. Her son went to get a ladder but he couldn't get to her. She burned to death."
'It's just reality''It's just reality'
Francois Lapointe, a member of Parliament for the area, told the Associated Press news agency volunteer firefighters did everything they could. Another man, Jacques Berube, told the Associated Press he feared the worst for his missing mother, Adrienne Dube, 99 years old and blind.
"They basically couldn't save some people they could hear or see," he said.
Another man, Jacques Berube, was standing by remains of the residence when he told the Associated Press he feared the worst for his missing mother.
Adrienne Dube, 99, is blind but mobile.
"I went near the building; the corner where her room was is burned," he said. "I'll just have to wait and see. I don't like it. But I don't have any choice. It's just reality.""I went near the building; the corner where her room was is burned," he said. "I'll just have to wait and see. I don't like it. But I don't have any choice. It's just reality."
A recent Quebec health department document said the building was only partially fitted with a sprinkler system, but there were smoke detectors in every room and in the building itself. Meanwhile, investigators have begun searching for the cause of the blaze.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, travelling in the Middle East this week, tweeted that his "thoughts and prayers go out to the injured and the families and friends of those lost in this morning's horrific fire in L'Isle-Verte". A recent Quebec health department document suggested the building was only partially fitted with a sprinkler system, but there were smoke detectors in every room and in the building itself.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, travelling in the Middle East this week, said in a statement he offered his "sincere condolences to the family and friends of those who passed away".
"We can keep some hope for those unaccounted for, but there's very little doubt that the loss of life is considerable," Mr Harper said, as quoted by the Associated Press news agency.
Quebec Premier Pauline Marois also expressed her sympathy for victims from Davos, Switzerland, where she is attending the World Economic Forum.Quebec Premier Pauline Marois also expressed her sympathy for victims from Davos, Switzerland, where she is attending the World Economic Forum.
"I want to offer my deepest condolences to all the families who have lost someone," Ms Marois said. "My government will do everything it can to help people there.""I want to offer my deepest condolences to all the families who have lost someone," Ms Marois said. "My government will do everything it can to help people there."