Major accident at Canadian military base Prime Minister: 4 soldiers are known to have been killed, dozens of others seriously injured

First published 03:12

Update time 06:10

Canadian Prime Minister Carney said today that a fire broke out at a military base in the western province of Alberta, killing four soldiers and seriously injuring dozens of others. He described the incident as one of the military's worst peacetime tragedies on the mainland.

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The Associated Press reported that the fire spread from the Canadian Forces Base Wainwright to surrounding rural areas late last night, fueled by strong winds, and the fire brigade was dispatched to rescue the fire. The military pointed out today that there is currently no indication that the incident was related to terrorism, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

●No indication of connection with terrorism

Mark Carney said in a televised talk that the families of the victims had been notified and that the incident had not yet been determined. He pointed out that the killed and injured officers and soldiers were participating in military training at the time.

Agence France-Presse reported that he said: "It is with a heavy heart that I confirm that four soldiers are currently known to have been killed, and their families have been informed. In addition, dozens of people were seriously injured."

Reuters reported that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) had previously reported, citing unnamed sources, that seven people were killed in the accident at the Wainwright base. Canadian authorities said the situation was still evolving and they would not confirm the number of casualties until their families were notified.

Carney also announced that flags at federal agencies across the country would be flown at half-mast in memory of those affected by the tragedy.

He noted that the casualties included reservists and soldiers from Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, one of Canada's most legendary military units. Soldiers from all over the country gathered in Wainwright for training.

The exact number of injured is not yet known. Carney said the injured were being treated in Wainwright, Edmonton, Red Deer and Calgary.

●A medical disaster occurs once in 15 to 20 years

A doctor at a hospital in Edmonton told CBC that the influx of injured patients has "completely overwhelmed" the medical facilities around the base.

Warren Thirsk, an emergency physician at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, said in an interview: "The number of patients will overwhelm the city of Edmonton, and the number of injured will be so high that we don't even want to count it. This is a disaster that only happens once every 15 to 25 years."

Acute Care Alberta pointed out that many hospitals in the province have activated "Code Orange", which is the emergency response code when multiple seriously injured patients require coordination of medical resources. It emphasized that ambulance resources in the Edmonton area are extremely tight and there are few ambulances available for dispatch. It called on the public to avoid going to the emergency room of the University of Alberta Hospital unless necessary.

●The tragic fire changes rapidly

Defense Minister David McGuinty said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were involved in the investigation, describing the situation as "fast-changing and sensitive." He said relevant units are still clarifying what happened and further announcements are expected.

Reuters reported that Maggenty described the fire as "tragic" yesterday and said: "I can't recall any similar accidents in recent years." He said today that he would go to the local area to learn about the latest situation.

Wainwright is one of Canada's most important military training bases, where soldiers prepare for combat. The base houses the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Center and the 3rd Canadian Division Training Center.

Wainwright, a town adjacent to the base, has a population of about 7,000.