One suspected dead in Elliot Lake mall collapse

One person is feared dead, and one other person is believed to be trapped under the collapsed roof of a shopping mall in Northern Ontario’s Elliot Lake.

At least 22 others were injured when the rooftop parking lot of the Algo Centre Mall caved in around 2 p.m. Saturday.

Ontario Provincial Police say images of the scene show a hand and foot in the debris, while fire officials say they have heard taps coming from behind fallen slabs of concrete and metal.

Police also have a list of about nine people who are unaccounted for, but say that number is fluctuating as community members account for those missing or report others who they haven’t heard from.

While rescue crews work to reach anyone who many be trapped, residents are questioning why it is taking so long, and suggesting there may have been warning signs about the mall roof for years.

The city’s newspaper reported three years ago that the roof had been sloping for a while, and a $1 million renovation was completed back in 2008 after a parking lot expansion led to leaking.

A special emergency crew that includes a 40-person team from Toronto is working on stabilizing the scene, which could take another 12 hours.