Grocery store roof collapses in Lévis

Part of a Metro grocery store's roof collapsed in Lévis Friday and at least two people are injured, according to Radio-Canada.

It happened around 4:15 p.m. at the Métro Plus Laroche St-Étienne.

The Lévis fire service said the roof collapsed at least partially over the butcher. 

"We're talking an area of eighty feet by eighty feet that collapsed. The whole building was evacuated," fire service spokesperson François Dubé said.

The hole is about 10 per cent of the total roof size. 

Firefighters watched security camera footage showing that no one was trapped under the rubble. They also used thermal cameras and a drone to make sure the building had been fully evacuated.

Dubé said one person has a broken arm, and another seemed confused and in shock.

The instability of the structure meant they were unable to enter until about 7 p.m. The firefighters had left the scene by 8:45 p.m.

Dubé said he could not confirm the cause of the cave-in, but said there is a chance it was snow buildup. 

Sylvain Amyot was shopping at the store when the collapse happened, and told Radio-Canada that customers were panicked. 

"I saw everyone running out of the grocery store screaming ... and lots of people were crying," he said.

The store is closed until further notice, and crews were on site Saturday to remove the snow from the rest of the roof.  

Snow buildup on the roof caused the evacuation of a second commercial building in Lévis Friday night, the Délice Restaurant-Nightclub.

About 300 people had to leave after a customer said they could feel the building moving.

Nothing happened and no one was injured. Firefighters told the restaurant's owner to remove the snow from the roof before re-opening.