Five more bodies found in Lac-Mégantic, bringing death toll to 33 - The Globe and Mail

Five more bodies have been found in the ruins of Lac-Mégantic to bring the official death toll to 33 people, police confirmed at a press conference on Saturday. Seventeen people are still missing and presumed dead.

Nine of the 33 killed have been identified by investigators, and authorities have released the names of eight victims so far:

The name of the ninth person identified is to be released on Monday.

Sûreté du Québec Inspector Michel Forget said that the SQ’s investigation of the disaster scene will take several more weeks at least, and that the search of the Musi-Café bar is underway. The popular bar was just 30 feet away from the disaster after 73 cars of crude oil derailed and exploded just after 1 a.m. last Saturday.

When asked to describe the scene, Insp. Forget said: "Think of going through a two-storey building brick-by-brick in addition to dealing with all of the liquid and intense heat and this was a popular gathering place."

"You have to understand that officers are mothers and fathers before police," Insp. Forget said.

The mayor of Lac-Mégantic, Colette Roy-Laroche, also announced today that those still displaced by the disaster will be relocated from the local high school which has been serving as a shelter.

"They will be relocated to better places. Places with real beds," Ms. Roy-Laroche said.

The high school will continue to offer food, psychological and social services to those affected.

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