TIMELINE: Elliot Lake mall roof collapse
Posted June 27, 2012 12:46 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Saturday, June 23 2:30 p.m.: Roof of the Algo Centre Mall in Elliot Lake, Ont., collapses.
Saturday, 8 p.m.: Toronto’s Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Team (HUSAR) deployed to the northern-Ontario city, including 40 police, EMS, firefighters, water and public-health personnel.
Sunday June 24, morning: HUSAR arrives at Elliot Lake and begins assessing the situation.
Monday, June 25., 4 a.m.: Tapping sound heard from under the debris.
Monday, 12 p.m.: HUSAR spokesman Bill Neadles says one confirmed dead, 22 injured and up to 30 missing.
Monday afternoon: Large sky beam removed from site with the help of a crane along with large chunks of concrete. The OPP sends in its life detector device and it was able to pick up signs of life.
Monday, 5 p.m.: Neadles holds news conference saying integrity of the building had deteriorated. The area in the south end near the stairs and escalators was at severe risk and there was a major piece of concrete that has fallen on top of that, putting a severe amount of stress. Beams supporting escalators and stairs have started to bow, Neadles says.
“I had to make the decision it’s not safe to put the workers back in there because this will be a devastating collapse. Not only would it be possible for the escalator and staircase to come down but they couldn’t determine what else would fall down.”
Monday evening: Local residents band together, signing a petition against the decision with some saying they’ll go check for survivors themselves. There’s word an injunction may be brought down to prevent the rescue efforts from ending.
Monday, 10 p.m.: Elliot Lake fire chief Paul Officer says search and rescue operation is on again. The plan is to use heavy machinery and attack the debris from the outside. However, rescuers will not go in as the structure is unsafe.
Tuesday, June 26, 10 a.m.: Premier Dalton McGuinty says special rescue equipment is en route to Elliot Lake to assist in operations. He adds that the prime minister has offered Ottawa’s support – including the military – should it be required.
Tuesday, 1 p.m.: Emergency officials say heavy equipment from GTA-based Priestly Demolition Inc. is being brought in to help dismantle and clear pathways at the mall so that they can reach those trapped in the building. OPP say12 people are now missing, down from earlier estimates of 30.
Wednesday morning, June 27: Officials confirm a body was removed from the rubble. Ontario Community Safety Commissioner Dan Hefkey says crews removed an escalator from the mall. That structure had been earlier deemed to unstable to allow rescuers to go inside the mall. OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis says a full investigation will be launched into the Elliot Lake rescue effort.
Wednesday, 1:30 p.m.: HUSAR’s Bill Neadles says 2nd victim located and removed from rubble. He doesn’t believe there are any more victims, but that rescuers will sift through the pile of rubble just to be certain.
Wednesday, 4:30 p.m.: Premier Dalton McGuinty arrives in Elliot Lake to meet with victims’ families and the first responders.
Wednesday, 5:40 p.m.: During a news conference in Elliot Lake, the premier identifies the two victims as Lucie Aylwin and Doloris Perizzolo.
Friday, June 29: McGuinty announces he will launch an independent public inquiry into the collapse.
With files from CityNews reporter Galit Solomon
