COTEAU-DU-LAC — Two people are dead after a massive explosion in Quebec.
The blast at a fireworks warehouse rattled an area west of Montreal and sent up a cloud of smoke that could be seen for kilometres.
The adjacent highway is closed to vehicles, causing a huge traffic jam.
Surrounding neighbourhoods and a campground were evacuated.
Provincial police say two bodies were found in the wreckage.
The initial explosion at B.E.M. Fireworks occurred just before 9 a.m. and completely destroyed the building, which was reduced to charred scraps.
A series of sparkly blasts followed.
A plume of thick, dark smoke emanated from the blast site, located near Valleyfield, Que., roughly 60 kilometres southwest of Montreal.
The vibrations could be felt for kilometres and the smoke could also be seen from neighbouring municipalities.