MONTREAL — Montreal’s mayor vowed Monday to tighten regulation of Airbnb as a search continued for six folks lacking after a hearth swept by a constructing that included Airbnb items in a historic metropolis part the place they’re banned.

Firefighters initially thought there was one individual lacking within the blaze Thursday within the jap Canadian metropolis. Nonetheless, studies emerged later of unlawful Airbnb items within the greater than 130-year-old constructing, and authorities up to date the lacking over the weekend to seven, together with some from the USA.

Montreal police reported pulling the physique of a lady from the rubble Sunday night.

Montreal police Inspector David Shane mentioned the six who’re nonetheless lacking are from Quebec, Ontario and the U.S., including that investigators have contacted their households. The hearth additionally injured 9 folks, together with two who have been hospitalized.

The reason for the fireplace is being investigated.

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante mentioned the constructing included unlawful Airbnb items in addition to an architect’s workplace. Plante mentioned Airbnb ought to have demanded that unit house owners present a allow quantity from the Quebec provincial authorities.

“What occurred here’s a full tragedy,” Plante mentioned. “Clearly, we’d not be on this place if we had been coping with an organization that took its tasks significantly and mentioned to those house owners ‘You don’t have a certificates, you can not hire your unit.’” And that may power individuals who wish to act illegally and don’t pay taxes to not escape their tasks.”

Plante mentioned she deliberate to work with the Quebec provincial authorities to tighten rules on short-term leases.

Firefighters have mentioned a number of residences within the constructing have been getting used as Airbnb leases, and police they didn’t know the way most of the lacking have been vacationers. San Francisco-based Airbnb is “washing its palms” of the issue of unlawful leases in cities throughout Quebec, Plante mentioned.

Nathan Rotman, Airbnb’s regional coverage lead for Canada, mentioned in a emailed assertion: “We’re helping legislation enforcement as they examine. We’re additionally engaged with the mayor’s workplace.”

Alexandre Bergevin, a lawyer for the constructing’s proprietor — Emile-Haim Benamor — mentioned on Sunday that Airbnb leases within the constructing weren’t being operated by his consumer however by tenants, including that steps had been taken to cease the observe.

Montreal fireplace operations chief Martin Guilbault mentioned firefighters would start dismantling the second and third flooring of the constructing Monday.

Shane mentioned the police power’s fireplace unit used a drone to assist find the physique of the lady that was eliminated Sunday.

“The idea is that there are six extra folks inside,” Shane mentioned. “The totally different steps we’ve taken (counsel) these people who find themselves nonetheless lacking are most likely within the rubble, sadly.”

Metropolis officers mentioned Airbnb-style, short-term leases are unlawful within the Previous Montreal neighborhood the place the constructing is positioned. The hearth passed off on the Édifice William-Watson-Ogilvie, inbuilt 1890, town mentioned.

Bergevin mentioned in a textual content message Sunday that the alarm system had been changed in 2019 and was commonly examined.

Shane mentioned nobody has been charged in reference to the fireplace and that the trigger stays below investigation.