What we know about the victims of the Eastway Tank blast
Family members of some of the victims of Thursday's deadly explosion at a tanker truck facility on Merivale Road are mourning the loss of their loved ones.
Six people are believed to have died in the blast. Police confirmed one death on Friday and said that five other people were missing and presumed dead. Police are not releasing their identities, but say their families have been notified.
The explosion at Eastway Tank is one of the deadliest industrial accidents in Ottawa's history.
Family members have identified four of the victims through social media or to CTV News Ottawa.
Kayla Ferguson was from Carleton Place. Her mother Janet said on Facebook shortly after the blast that she wasn't able to get ahold of her daughter, then later said she had received a call from police.
Kayla Ferguson, of Carleton Place, Ont., has been identified as one of the victims of the Eastway Tank blast in Ottawa on Jan. 13, 2022. (Janet Ferguson/Facebook)
In a Facebook post Saturday, she said Kayla is lost but will never be forgotten.
"I'm so lost and numb inside," she wrote. "Your brother says he loves you too… You, Nana and Aunt Margret are together. You all take care of each other up there."
Rick Bastien, 57, of Luskville, Que., was publicly identified on social media by family on Friday.
Rick Bastien (right) died following an explosion and fire at Eastway Tank in Ottawa. His son Josh Bastien (left) called his dad the hardest working guy he ever knew. (Josh Bastien/Facebook)
"As I sit here and think of all the things he said to me, all the things we did, I have so much regret there wasn't more," his son Josh Bastien said in a Facebook post.
"My dad was one of a kind…the hardest working guy I knew ever."
Rick Bastien's Facebook page says he was a welder/fabricator/mechanic at Eastway Tank.
Family members confirmed to CTV News Ottawa on Sunday that Etienne Mabiala is missing and presumed dead after Thursday's explosion.
Jackie Beale told CTV News Ottawa on Sunday that her brother Danny Beale is among the six people believed to have been killed in the explosion.
In a Facebook post, Jackie said, "Oh Danny, my twin brother. We have been together on earth for 29 beautiful years. You have been there for me through everything.
"I know I will never really got to say goodbye but I know in my heart that you knew how valuable you were to me and how much I appreciated you."
Danny Beale is one of six people believed to have died in Thursday's explosion at Eastway Tank on Merivale Road. (Photo courtesy: Jackie Beale)
The investigation into what happened at Eastway Tank on Merivale Road Thursday afternoon is ongoing and recovery efforts at the heavily damaged site are underway.
On Saturday, the Office of the Fire Marshal said investigators continued to work at the site with Ottawa fire and police investigators.
Eastway Tank Pump & Meter Ltd. is a custom manufacturer of tank trucks for both the North American and international markets and has been in business since 1968.
Neil Greene, the owner and president of the family-run business, said he is "completely devastated" and that the company remains in close contact with investigators to get to the bottom of what happened.
--With files from CTV News Ottawa's Katie Griffin., Jeremie Charron, Colton Praill and Josh Pringle
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.