The Bismarck Tribune
ELLIOT LAKE, Ontario — The threat of another collapse at a shopping mall in Northern Ontario forced rescue crews to abandon their search for possible survivors despite recent signs of life, officials said Monday, two days after part of the roof collapsed and killed at least one person.
Saturday’s collapse in the middle of a bustling day also left at least one person trapped.
Officials said at least two bodies were still inside the building, including a person who recently showed signs of life and could still be alive.
“That person is still there,” said Ontario Provincial Police Insp. Percy Jollymore. “I don’t know the condition of that individual.”
However, the building is “totally unsafe” and could collapse at any time, said Bill Needles, a spokesman from the Heavy Urban Search and Rescue team.
Needles earlier confirmed one person had died and said crews used a remote device called the life detector to determine a person was breathing as of 4 a.m. Monday. But he said it was too unsafe to send someone in to rescue the victim or any others who might be trapped.
The collapse left behind a gaping hole which was 39 feet by 79 feet. It also downed hydro lines and triggered a gas leak.
Copyright 2012 The Bismarck Tribune, a division of Lee Enterprises
All Rights Reserved