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An explosion occurred at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta, Canada, on Saturday, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries.
What happened
A fire broke out in the base's training area around 4 p.m. local time, spreading beyond the base's boundaries. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation, but multiple military sources suggest that a live-fire exercise may have struck a natural gas line or well, triggering the explosion and fire.
At least four people were killed and 19 injured in the incident, according to Canadian Defense Minister David McGuinty. Hospitals in Edmonton activated mass-casualty protocols as patients were transferred from overwhelmed medical facilities in Wainwright.
Ambulances converged on Wainwright High School, which was used as an emergency staging area. The Canadian Armed Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police are investigating the incident.
The base is one of Canada's busiest military training installations, hosting exercises for Canadian Armed Forces personnel. The cause of the incident remains under investigation.
