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
NDP calls out Conservatives for effort to quash pharmacare legislation
The federal New Democrats are calling out Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and his party for trying to block the bill that could pave the way for millions of Canadians to access birth control and diabetes coverage.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
DEVELOPING Hamas accepts Gaza ceasefire proposal from Egypt and Qatar
Hamas said it has accepted a ceasefire deal proposed by Egypt and Qatar which seeks to halt the seven-month war with Israel in Gaza.
Stamp prices rise for the third time in five years amid financial woes for Canada Post
Canada Post is increasing stamp prices for the third time since 2019, a move the Crown corporation says is a "reality" of its sales-based revenue structure.
For the first time, researchers have identified a genetic form of late-in-life Alzheimer's disease
For the first time, researchers have identified a genetic form of late-in-life Alzheimer’s disease — in people who inherit two copies of a worrisome gene.
B.C. court date set for 3 accused of murdering Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three suspects accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year are scheduled to appear in court in Surrey on Tuesday.
Ontario MPP asked again to leave Ontario legislature over keffiyeh, Speaker loosens ban
An Ontario MPP was asked again to leave the Ontario legislature on Monday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that was banned by the Speaker last month due to its political symbolism.