The bodies of a Canadian couple and their two daughters were found late Tuesday in the basement of their house that plunged into a massive sinkhole, CNN affiliates reported.
"They were found very close to one another, some of them lying on the couch in the family room in the basement, where we were told that they'd be," said Michel C. Doré, Quebec's associate deputy public security minister, who was on the scene, told CNN affiliate CBC.
Yvon Desrochers, uncle of homeowner Richard Préfontaine, told the CBC on Tuesday feared his nephew and his family were in the basement watching the Montreal Canadiens-Pittsburgh Penguins hockey playoff game Monday night when the ground gave way beneath the home, about 40 miles northeast of Montreal.
Besides Préfontaine, those in the home were his wife, Lyne Charbonneau, and their two daughters, Amélie, 12, and Anaïs, 9.
The family’s dog was found alive – caked in mud – in the sinkhole earlier Tuesday.
The hole was about 500 yards long and forced the evacuation of five other homes in the town of Saint-Jude, in a rural area near the Yamaska River.
While there was no official word on the cause of the sinkhole, geologist Judith Patterson told CNN affiliate CTV that the sinkhole looked like a kind of landslide known as a “lateral spread.”
The region has soils known as “quick clay” that can liquefy, leading to a landslide or sinkhole, she told CTV.
"These clays, they're stable when they're undisturbed. But once they're disturbed, then they become very hazardous," she told CTV.
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What a terrible tragedy! You never know when the Lord will call you home. I will keep their family members in prayer.
It seems that Doom's Day is everyday...for someone. Sad
Ashlyye – If that is your real name
Thanks for the comment but I must draw upon one fact. I was born in a religious, christian family. I believed way back when and as I grew up, I started thinking for myself based on history, evolution, psychology, etc. The majority of religious followers are good people that know nothing else than what they were taught. For some reason, they think if you remove religion, chaos would ensue. For most, you would also remove the only "purpose" they have. How easy would it be for us to continue life without our defintion of purpose. Tolerance is a must if we are to see the light one day.
Thanks again for your kudos!
I am from nova scotia canada and I can't belleive some of the comments on this topic.you know its hear stuff like canada bashing over a family dying this is a very sad time we live in .people now a days are very inhumain .it makes me think that nobody cares about life its self anymore and how it is a very short life....too live
Man, you bible-quoters are scary. I prefer to use my own words to back up my arguments. You seem to think you're proving something by throwing around the text from an ancient book instead of thinking for yourselves. Religious people rejoice over so-called "miracles", praising and thanking God for making them happen. Why isn't he ever at fault to you when something like this happens?
You know why? Because he didn't cause and/or not stop this from happening any more than he makes your "miracles" happen. There's no rhyme or reason behind this tragedy except for the fact that earth gave way at a certain point in time and 4 people just happened to be in that spot at that time. Period.
And for you idiots who say that people shouldn't be concerned about the dog, get a freaking clue. It is possible to both be horrified by the loss of an entire family and be concerned about the well-being of the dog (particularly now that it has lost its' caregivers).
Humans have such a ridiculous superior complex it disgusts me; honestly, the state of this world terrifies me. Open your minds, people.
May the family rest in peace.
@Spectator Man, no wonder so many people hate Christ beleivers. Please shut up and stop giving other believers a bad name!. The reputation people like you have given believers is bad enough already. Why so you always have to make us sound like intolerant, judgemental, fools? We're not all like you so stop including me in your mindless diatribe.
To the rest of you...we're really not like this guy. We don't think this poor family was being punished by God. We believe in a loving God. We don't wish to impose OUR will on you. We don't wish to impose ANYONE'S will on you. If you hear nothing else please hear this: most of us are not like this goofball. If you don't ask me I won't even talk to you about what I beleive, much less force some personally beneficial explanation down your throat. This is not what we're about.
"If there is a god, he better have a pretty good excuse." – Woody Allen
Tragedy. But that's nature.
CJZ- Sure thing, I'll make a note of it.
RM-
Thank you!
@Ashlyye...and that includes you too. By the way, your name's spelled wrong.
Actually Marc, I have. I’m an educated man who has worked hard to get where I am, and like you, have children. Each moment I spend with them leaves fewer and fewer doubts concerning the existence of God. What harm comes to you through my believing in God? I’ll answer that; the same amount that comes to me by you not believing. None. The difference between you and me; I don’t walk around trumpeting my belief as fact. Your arrogance is pitiful. But, I’ll cut you some slack, as I’m sure your admirable job in the medical profession has jaded you, but criticizing others as hardily as you do is clearly a sign of jealousy, as you don’t have the capacity to even consider that something beyond your scope of thinking is the main reason for our existence. Good luck.
It's interesting to me that the topic of "God" always seems to come up on articles having to do with life or death. The "God" topic just won't go away...
hey everyone – this story is finished, meet me over at the Libyan aircrash story
@ Jay...everyone has their opinion in regards to God, their beliefs and whether or not there is a heaven. Just like you have your belief that there is not. So let them have them and don't ridicule them.
troy, you don't think that if a house collapsed on you, you would die? Doesn't matter where your sitting, you would not be around for game 7.