SAEDNEWS: Explosion and Fire at Major Canadian Military Base Leave Seven Dead and Dozens Injured
According to Saednews, Authorities were called to Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta shortly after 4 p.m. local time on Saturday (11 p.m. GMT) following reports of a fire in a training area, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
“I’m saddened to share that there have been both fatalities and injuries as a result of an incident on the base,” Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty said.
The cause of the explosion remains unclear. However, Mr McGuinty said the Canadian military and the RCMP were investigating the incident, The Telegraph reported.
“I cannot recall an incident like this in recent memory,” he said.
Severe changes in wind patterns, with gusts reaching up to 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph), pushed the fire towards the nearby town of Wainwright.
The municipality said in an update shortly before 11 p.m. local time that the flames south of the town had been brought under control.
