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Rescuers today said there was little hope of finding survivors after a fire at an old people’s home in Canada which is feared to have killed more than 30 infirm residents.

As emergency crews resumed their search in what remains of the three-storey Residence du Havre, prime minister Stephen Harper said: “We can keep some hope for those unaccounted for, but there’s very little doubt that the loss of life is considerable.”

The blaze — which broke out at about 12.30am local time yesterday and raged through the night — left five dead and dozens missing. Officials said firefighters saw and heard people in the building who they were unable to save.

Many of those unaccounted for used wheelchairs or walkers and only five residents in the centre were fully able to care for themselves, said Ginette Caron, acting mayor of L’Isle-Verte, about 140 miles from Quebec City. She said some had Alzheimer’s disease.

Firefighters arrived within eight minutes of getting the alarm but were unable to carry out a complete evacuation due to the intensity of the fire. About 20 residents were transported to safety.

Canada fire 6 show all Canada fire 1/6 Canada fire A crane demolishes part of a wall damaged in the fire Heavy equipment demolishes the wall of the seniors residence Residence du Havre after a fire in L'Isle Verte, Quebec, January 23, 2014. Police will spend Thursday night sifting through the frozen ruins of a wooden, three-story residence for the elderly th 2/6 Canada fire A firefighter pictured among the wreckage at Residence du Havre A firefighter looks on at the seniors residence Residence du Havre after a fire in L'Isle Verte, Quebec, January 23, 2014. Police will spend Thursday night sifting through the frozen ruins of a wooden, three-story residence for the elderly that burned dow 3/6 Canada fire Canada fire: Up to 30 are feared dead when flames engulfed an old people's home A firefighter walks past the rubble where fire destroyed a a seniors residence in L'Isle-Verte, Quebec, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014. The fire raged through the seniors' residence, killing at least three people and leaving about 30 unaccounted for. The massive 4/6 Canada fire Smoke billows from rubble after the flames were put under control Smoke rises from the burnt remains of a retirement home in L'Isle-Verte on January 23, 2014. Firefighters searched the ashes of a Quebec retirement home that burned to the ground on a bleak midwinter night, leaving more than 30 residents feared dead. Off 5/6 Canada fire Emergency workers pick through rubble after the fire which left 30 unaccounted for Smoke rises from the burnt remains of a retirement home in L'Isle-Verte on January 23, 2014. Firefighters searched the ashes of a Quebec retirement home that burned to the ground on a bleak midwinter night, leaving more than 30 residents feared dead. Off 6/6 Canada fire Firefighters soak remains of the retirement home which burned to the ground TOPSHOTS Canadian firefighters douse the burnt remains of a retirement home in L'Isle-Verte on January 23, 2014. Firefighters searched the ashes of a Quebec retirement home that burned to the ground on a bleak midwinter night, leaving more than 30 residen 1/6 Canada fire A crane demolishes part of a wall damaged in the fire Heavy equipment demolishes the wall of the seniors residence Residence du Havre after a fire in L'Isle Verte, Quebec, January 23, 2014. Police will spend Thursday night sifting through the frozen ruins of a wooden, three-story residence for the elderly th 2/6 Canada fire A firefighter pictured among the wreckage at Residence du Havre A firefighter looks on at the seniors residence Residence du Havre after a fire in L'Isle Verte, Quebec, January 23, 2014. Police will spend Thursday night sifting through the frozen ruins of a wooden, three-story residence for the elderly that burned dow 3/6 Canada fire Canada fire: Up to 30 are feared dead when flames engulfed an old people's home A firefighter walks past the rubble where fire destroyed a a seniors residence in L'Isle-Verte, Quebec, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014. The fire raged through the seniors' residence, killing at least three people and leaving about 30 unaccounted for. The massive 4/6 Canada fire Smoke billows from rubble after the flames were put under control Smoke rises from the burnt remains of a retirement home in L'Isle-Verte on January 23, 2014. Firefighters searched the ashes of a Quebec retirement home that burned to the ground on a bleak midwinter night, leaving more than 30 residents feared dead. Off 5/6 Canada fire Emergency workers pick through rubble after the fire which left 30 unaccounted for Smoke rises from the burnt remains of a retirement home in L'Isle-Verte on January 23, 2014. Firefighters searched the ashes of a Quebec retirement home that burned to the ground on a bleak midwinter night, leaving more than 30 residents feared dead. Off 6/6 Canada fire Firefighters soak remains of the retirement home which burned to the ground TOPSHOTS Canadian firefighters douse the burnt remains of a retirement home in L'Isle-Verte on January 23, 2014. Firefighters searched the ashes of a Quebec retirement home that burned to the ground on a bleak midwinter night, leaving more than 30 residen

Pascal Fillion, who lives near the home, said he ran outside to find a group of locals and firefighters trying everything to save the panicked people inside. “People tried to do whatever they could, but the fire was so intense that there wasn’t much that could be done,” he said. “I saw people crying, I saw people collapse because they were watching those people burn.”

The fire broke out in -20C temperatures, causing equipment to freeze, chief firefighter Yvon Charron said.

The search for the missing was hampered last night by the cold and thick ice and the fact the building has collapsed, said Lt Guy Lapointe of Quebec Provincial police. He said the search would regroup at daylight.

Retired police officer Pierre Filion, who had a cousin and an aunt living in the residence, said the tragedy had shaken the community of 1,500 people. “It’s going to take a long time to start living normally,” said Mr Filion whose missing relatives are in their seventies.

Parts of the building had sprinklers. A Quebec health department document said it was built entirely of wood.