A view of the Partial Mall Roof Collapse in Elliot Lake, Ontario. The collapse has already claimed 1 life. (Image Via: DigitalJournal)

After the devastating collapse of a mall roof in Elliot Lake, Ontario that killed 1, rescuers have deemed the area around the roof collapse unsafe. The collapse occurred on Saturday when witnesses say that the top mall parking floor fell through into the mall. Earlier yesterday 1 person was confirmed killed by the rubble, while there are 2 more that are possibly alive buried within the rubble. The number of people missing or unaccounted for had fluctuated greatly since the collapse, with some names being taken off the list and others added.

Yesterday also, machinery was brought in which include robotic arms. This equipment will help search through the rubble and, with any hope, find anyone that may be trapped within.  Meanwhile, Elliot Lake Mayor Rick Hamilton  refused to comment on the matters and rumors that relate to structural failures that caused the collapse. The mall has had its fair share of structural problems dating back to 2005. As a matter-of-fact, an Elliot Lake citizen said  ”Pieces of the roof have been falling on shoppers for a long time. The people of Elliot Lake have been saying something like this would happen and they keep putting a Band-Aid on it.” Despite the criticism, the matter-at-hand is critical as for rescue efforts being delayed, this may prove fatal to the unknown amount of people buried. The date or time of which the rescue efforts continue is still yet to be determined, but devastating mall roof collapse has already claimed the life of one and may claim the lives of more .