Toronto police spent Friday at the scene of a devastating industrial accident, investigating how a scaffolding could have snapped in two killing four migrant construction workers on Christmas Eve.
The accident happened late Thursday afternoon on Kipling Avenue, near Steeles Avenue in the northwest part of the city.
Five construction workers were perched on an elevated scaffolding fixing several balconies of a residential highrise. They were 13 storeys off the ground when the structure collapsed.
Four were pronounced dead at the scene and the fifth victim was rushed to hospital with serious head injuries.
Police were able to recover the last two bodies of the deceased on Friday evening, as high winds earlier had left the scaffolding blowing dangerously above.
The scaffolding was finally secured enough Friday night to allow the bodies to be recovered and brought to the morgue.
Staff Sgt. David Gillis revealed few details about the dead men but said they were of European background.
Danny Roth, a spokesperson for the owners of the building, said management is cooperating fully with police.
Management released a statement calling the deaths a "tragic jobsite accident" and offered expressions of sympathy to the families of the dead workers.
Residents of the building told CTV News that the men appeared to have been wrapping up their work for the day and were preparing to head home.
One couple said they saw one of the men dangling from the platform when it collapsed but unfortunately couldn't hold on.
"We just saw everyone shouting and screaming," said the woman. "Everyone was going down their own style."
There are conflicting reports on whether the workers were wearing safety equipment at the time of the fall.
The Ministry of Labour is investigating the incident.
With a report from The Canadian Press and CTV News reporter Omar Sachedina
