Quebec's provincial flag flies on a flag pole in Ottawa on June 30, 2020. Municipal officials say workers are missing after an explosion at a propane facility in St-Roch-de-l'Achigan, Que. Provincial police say evacuations are underway in the town north of Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
SAINT-ROCH-DE-L’ACHIGAN, Que. – Quebec police say at least one worker is missing after an explosion at a propane facility in St-Roch-de-l’Achigan, Que., north of Montreal.
Municipal officials had earlier said three or four employees were unaccounted for, but provincial police Sgt. Éloïse Cossette told a news conference this afternoon “at least one person” is missing and there could be more.
Fire Chief François Thivierge says authorities were called following an explosion at 11:17 a.m., and the first units to arrive tried to intervene but had to back off due to a risk of further explosions.
Thivierge says the fire is not under control and officials are being prudent due to safety risks and the environmental risk of oil or gas ending up in a nearby river.
The explosion occurred at Propane Lafortune, a well-known business in the community.
Authorities established a one-kilometre evacuation zone around the site, but Thivierge said they would be able to reduce that zone later this afternoon.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 12, 2023.
