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Justin Morin-Carpentier, a family friend of Ms. Aylwin, said her family was concerned as she hadn’t been seen since Saturday.

“She’s a very caring person, if you ever needed help, she was ready to help.”

Penny Taylor, who knows a person believed to be trapped but won’t name them out of respect for the family, called the decision to suspend the rescue a “crock of crap.”

She did not want any rescue workers to be hurt, but could not comprehend how they could leave people who may be alive behind.

“I think they should be going in there to look for those people. If they can hear people breathing, tapping, whatever, they should be in there helping these people,” said Ms. Taylor, who works at a family restaurant in the mall, which her sister owns. “I just don’t understand why they’re not in there doing it. It’s just crazy.”

Sarah Ball, who worked at Mum’s Place with Ms. Taylor, and was there when the roof caved in, said she was “devastated” when the search was halted.

Ms. Ball said when the roof caved in, she heard a deafening “drum roll,” before concrete came crashing down in front of her, as she stood at the counter of the restaurant.

“All the roof tiles, they were all collapsing onto the food court. You could see sunlight coming in and dust everywhere,” she said.

Ms. Ball’s said there were about 30 people in the food court at the time of the collapse. Many seniors, who regular patrons of the mall, could be seen bloodied and bruised, she said.

Officials say at least 22 people were injured after the crash.