LONGUEUIL, Que. — Three people are unaccounted for following an overnight apartment building fire in Longueuil, Que.
Firefighters in the community just south of Montreal were called to the blaze at around 2 a.m.
They arrived to find that a wall had collapsed and severed a gas line, which fuelled the flames even further, trapping about 20 residents inside. Firefighters used ladders to rescue them from their balconies.
Five people, including three children, were taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation and shock.
Firefighters initially believed all residents got out in time, but it was later determined three people had not yet been found.
There was no immediate word on what caused the fire (on Terrasse Turgeon).
The Canadian Red Cross was at the scene to take care of about 40 displaced residents.
