Last 2 victims of Old Montreal fire identified
Search for victims has wrapped up, officials say
On Tuesday, Montreal police and fire officials announced the end of search efforts after identifying the last two victims of a fire in an Old Montreal building on March 16.
Montreal police Insp. David Shane identified the last two people found as Charlie Lacroix and Walid Belkahla, both 18. Their bodies were pulled from the rubble of the charred building on Monday.
"Out of respect, we will not provide further details on the origins of the victims and the circumstances surrounding their deaths," said Shane.
Montreal fire operations Chief Martin Guilbault said the retrieval of the last two victims concludes the search because investigators have no reason to believe there are any more victims.
The attention of investigators now turns to what sparked the fire, said Guilbault.
"Today, and in the next few days, all our efforts will be focused on finding the cause and circumstances of the fire."
A total of seven people perished in the fire that erupted on March 16.
According to Guilbault, 22 people were in the building at the time of the fire. Six managed to get out uninjured, nine were hospitalized and seven died.
The victims are:
- Dania Zafar.
- Saniya Khan.
- An Wu.
- Nathan Sears.
- Camille Maheux.
- Charlie Lacroix.
- Walid Belkahla.
Firefighters rescued four people by portable ladder, two by aerial ladder and one person escaped by jumping through the window, he said.
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