
At least seven people have been killed and dozens more injured in an explosion followed by a fire at the Canadian military base Wainwright, in the Canadian province of Alberta.
According to preliminary reports, the explosion may have occurred during a firearms training exercise, when some shots may have hit pipelines or a gas well.
The situation has strained hospitals in the town of Wainwright, which are overwhelmed by the large number of wounded. For this reason, patients are also being transported to hospitals in Edmonton, about 180 kilometers from the base.
Wainwright Base is one of the most active military training centers in Canada, where soldiers prepare for combat operations.
Canadian Defense Minister David McGuinty said he could not recall a similar incident in recent years. Meanwhile, the leaders of the provinces of Saskatchewan and British Columbia expressed solidarity with those affected and offered assistance to Alberta authorities.