31 missing as fire destroys Canada home for the old

Canadian firefighters douse the burnt remains of a retirement home in L'Isle-Verte on January 23, 2014. As many as 31 elderly Canadians are unaccounted for and five are confirmed dead after a fire destroyed an old people’s home in Quebec. PHOTO | AFP

What you need to know:

  • 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

QUEBEC

As many as 31 elderly Canadians are unaccounted for and five are confirmed dead after a fire destroyed an old people’s home in Quebec.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said there was little doubt the loss of life at Residence du Havre in L’Isle-Verte would be “considerable”.

The blaze was first reported about 00:30 local time, 225 kilometres east of Quebec City.

Many residents used wheelchairs and walking frames, officials said.

Several firefighters 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.

It was “a night from hell”, local chief firefighter Yvon Charron told the Canadian Press.

Emergency crews were able to save about 20 of the home’s 50-60 residents, three of whom were injured.

Rescue efforts were slowed by frigid temperatures on Thursday evening, however, as authorities searched the ruined home covered in a layer of ice from the fire hoses.

Officials said they hoped at least some of those unaccounted for had been visiting family.

“We hope for the best,” police Sgt Audrey-Annie Bilodeau told reporters.

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.

“All our thoughts are with the families, the people affected by this ordeal,” Ms Caron said.

Witnesses described scenes of horror, watching the building burn and knowing elderly residents were trapped inside.

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.

“She burned to death,” Mr Michaud said. Another man, Jacques Berube, told the Associated Press he feared the worst for his missing mother, Adrienne Dube, 99 years old and blind.