An apparent explosion has destroyed a bar and motel in Trois-Rivieres, Que., leaving the site engulfed in flames.
Residents in the Cap-de-la-Madeleine area of the city tell local news outlets that around noon on Friday, they heard one or two strong explosions in quick succession near the Bar Turco, which is connected to the Motel Le Havre.
First responders on the scene found wood and other lumber scattered across the property and several fires burning.
There were no reports of injuries or fatalities, but six people, including two children, had to be rescued.
It’s not clear how many people might have been inside the building at the time.
Firefighters and ambulances are on scene trying to put out a fire that broke out after the explosion. They have also set up a security perimeter around the complex.
Michel Letarte, public relations officer for the local fire department, tells CTV Montreal that the explosion happened where two buildings -- a motel and the main building at the front of the property -- meet. He was not sure if the motel section of the complex was currently in use or if it had been shut down.
Police are still investigating the cause of the explosion. Part of the investigation will focus on whether it was a criminal act, CTV Montreal’s Genevieve Beauchemin reports.
Motel Le Havre made headlines last year, when RCMP raided two of the rooms, along with several other locations, as part of a drug trafficking crackdown that resulted in the arrests of several people.
Trois-Riveres is located about 130 kilometres northeast of Montreal.
