17°c Partly cloudy
22°c Thundershowers
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Mall rescue called off, then ordered back on
Province intervenes in search for survivors
Chris Young / The Canadian Press Elliot Lake residents comfort each other after learning the rescue was called off. (CP)
Chris Young / THE CANADIAN PRESS Police and rescuers work at the scene of the roof collapse Monday. (CP)
ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. -- The search for survivors at a collapsed mall in this northern Ontario city was to resume after a late-night appeal Monday from Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.
The turnabout came just hours after the search efforts were called off because it was deemed too dangerous to send crews inside.
Rescuers told a news conference a plan is in the works to get back inside.
McGuinty told The Canadian Press Monday night he asked that any other options be considered, including using heavy equipment to dismantle the building from the outside.
The premier said if a member of his family or close friend were inside, he would want "no stone left unturned," and the province owes it to the families and community to give it the best shot.
At least two people were believed inside after a parking lot on the roof of the Algo Centre Mall crashed two floors down into the mall below on Saturday. On Monday afternoon, rescuers said they detected "signs of life."
One person has been confirmed killed.
Ontario Provincial Police Insp. Percy Jollymore said officers are still trying to determine how many others are missing.
A list of names submitted by concerned citizens has been fluctuating dramatically since the accident, he said, adding at least two have remained constant.
"We do have two names of people who are known to be in the mall," Jollymore said. "Their names have never disappeared on the list."
Earlier in the day, personal vigils gave way to outraged protests after officials announced they were halting efforts to rescue possible survivors.
Dozens of angry community members gathered outside city hall to express their disgust that officials had walked away from a rescue effort they deemed too dangerous.
"Rescue missions never end, save our families, save our friends," chanted the protesters, adding efforts to recover survivors had gone on for days in the wake of high-profile tragedies.
Residents of the former mining hub said abandoning trapped comrades would be unthinkable in miners' culture, speculating volunteer mineworkers should take up the rescue themselves.
The mall's owner also announced they were seeking a court injunction against the decision to halt the rescue.
"Our hopes and prayers are with the families of those affected by this tragedy," Rhonda Bear of Eastwood Mall Inc. said in an email to The Canadian Press.
Bill Needles of the Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Team had said earlier Monday that crews were facing the threat of a secondary collapse within the fragile structure.
The section of shopping mall levelled when part of the roof came crashing down Saturday became increasingly unstable as crews sifted through the rubble, he said.
Early Monday, concerned community members gathered at the mall to learn the fate of their loved ones and offer support to those awaiting word.
"We're all trying to remain positive that everyone's going to come out of there and be fine," said Catherine Timleck-Shaw.
"We've all banded together. We talk, we hug. We're just here together."
-- The Canadian Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 26, 2012 A8
More Canada
- Back to Top
- Return to Canada
More Canada
(1 of 7 articles for today)
At 76, she has high school diploma in hand
1:00 AM 0VANCOUVER -- A great-grandmother who has waited 56 years to get her high school diploma can finally cross that dream ...
Poll
Most Popular Canada
- Liberal MP, former leader Bob Rae stepping down to focus on First Nations
- Corruption in Quebec: A blow-by-blow account
- 'Shocking' half of First Nations kids living in poverty, new study finds
- Commons breaks for summer with reeling Conservatives poised for major retooling
- Fast and curious driver caught going 221 km/h loses car, nets double the fine
- 30,000 people homeless on a given night, first-ever national tally suggests
- Montreal will get its new, new mayor Tuesday
- Feds spend nearly $700K to acquire trove of documents from War of 1812
- Children taken from Mennonite community as more abuse charges are laid
- Border agency warns of telephone scam, says it doesn't make calls
- Sobeys gobbles up Safeway
- Manitoba restaurant stops selling giant hamburger "for obvious reasons"
- Montreal's interim mayor, a self-styled corruption fighter, faces fraud charges
- Corruption in Quebec: A blow-by-blow account
- Woman charged after drink tossed at embattled Toronto Mayor Rob Ford
- Fast and curious driver caught going 221 km/h loses car, nets double the fine
- Questions about Mayor Rob Ford overshadow news of huge police raids
- Trudeau to compensate charities that paid him to help raise money
- Liberal MP, former leader Bob Rae stepping down to focus on First Nations
- 'Shocking' half of First Nations kids living in poverty, new study finds
- Woman run over three times by her own car
- Sobeys gobbles up Safeway
- Controversy around Toronto mayor Rob Ford continues to grow
- Glover, Bezan fight suspension from Parliament
- Alleged Rob Ford drug video 'gone,' source tells Gawker
- Gawker hits $200K for 'crack cocaine' video as mayor's senior aides resign
- Two men now facing first-degree murder charges in Tim Bosma test drive death
- 'I am not stepping aside,' Mayor Rob Ford says, as 'crack video' scandal rages
- Mother cries, yells as driver appears in court charged with killing boy on patio
- Manitoba restaurant stops selling giant hamburger "for obvious reasons"
- 30,000 people homeless on a given night, first-ever national tally suggests
- Next! Montreal seeks yet another mayor after second one quits in scandal
- Hike in disclosure for public servants should apply to unions too: Liberals
- Corruption in Quebec: A blow-by-blow account
- 'Shocking' half of First Nations kids living in poverty, new study finds
- Brothers' testimony to be considered jointly
- Border agency warns of telephone scam, says it doesn't make calls
- Sobeys gobbles up Safeway
- Senate's hired motivational speakers scrubbed after planned pep talk goes public
- 'Shocking' half of First Nations kids living in poverty, new study finds
- Manitoba restaurant stops selling giant hamburger "for obvious reasons"
- Feds want to extend blanket of permanent secrecy over 11 new agencies
- 30,000 people homeless on a given night, first-ever national tally suggests
- Canadian and American missing for nearly two weeks in Mexico
- Squirrel takes whirl in toilet; woman rescues rodent with barbecue tongs
- Wendy's 9-patty burger extinct
- Training manuals for Parliament guides boost Senate, praise two-party system
- Sobeys gobbles up Safeway
- Glover, Bezan fight suspension from Parliament
- Woman run over three times by her own car
- Ottawa threatens 'retaliatory measures' over new U.S. meat labelling regulations
- Canadian and American missing for nearly two weeks in Mexico
- Banff officials hunt for cougar that man fought off with skateboard
- Harper government brings in new performance review system for public service
- Senate's hired motivational speakers scrubbed after planned pep talk goes public
- 'Shocking' half of First Nations kids living in poverty, new study finds
- Up to one of every three members of new tribunal gave money to Conservatives
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.