7 killed and dozens injured in an explosion and massive fire at a military base in Canada

At least seven people were killed and dozens of others injured in an explosion followed by a large-scale fire inside the Wainwright military base in Alberta County, Canada, on Saturday night–Sunday. Canadian officials described the incident as serious and tragic, amid intensive efforts to deal with the number of casualties.

According to Canadian media reports, the fire broke out during a live ammunition military exercise, during which it is believed that the forces hit a gas pipe or a gas well inside the base, resulting in a powerful explosion followed by a rapidly spreading fire. The spread of the fire was exacerbated by wind gusts reaching speeds of about 100 kilometers per hour.

A doctor at one of Alberta’s hospitals that received the injured said the incident is considered an exceptional disaster that occurs only once every 15 to 25 years, according to what was reported by Canadian media.

A medical emergency in Edmonton

A doctor in the intensive care unit told the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) that a medical emergency was declared in the city of Edmonton following the incident. The injured were transported to various hospitals in the city, and additional medical teams were called in to deal with the influx of cases.

The doctor pointed out that the medical facilities inside the military base were completely overcrowded due to the large number of injured people who needed treatment.

Canadian officials: a serious and tragic accident

Canadian National Defence Minister David McGuinty said he does not recall a similar incident occurring recently, while Alberta Premier Danielle Smith confirmed that the fire took place at the Wainwright base, describing it as a "major and tragic fire," noting that the incident caused damage and injured a large number of armed forces personnel.

For his part, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described the incident as serious and said it had caused a major fire. He stated that his thoughts are with all the servicemen and servicewomen who were affected by the incident, adding that the federal government is working in close coordination with the Alberta government and local authorities.

Wainwright Base is one of the most prominent military training centers

The Canadian Forces Base Wainwright is located in the south of Alberta Province and is considered one of the main military bases in the country. The base includes extensive training centers and is also used for conducting field exercises for military units operating in the region.

All the circumstances of the explosion are not yet clear, while efforts to deal with the injured and investigate the causes of the incident are ongoing.