Injury count rises to 22 after explosion at B.C. military base
An explosion at Canadian Forces Base Comox on Vancouver Island, injured a total of 22 people, according to the Department of National Defence.
Sixteen military members and six civilians were injured on Thursday after an explosion took place at a barracks building that was undergoing renovations.
Everyone has been treated and released from hospital Friday, except for one military member, according to Col. Bryn Elliott, wing commander at 19 Wing Comox.
Elliot says the individual is receiving surgery for a laceration to his leg on Friday.
The explosion site is seen on Nov. 19, 2021: (CTV News)
Although the building was being renovated, the DND says it was being used for accommodations at the time of the blast.
Elliot says 59 people were housed in the building, though not everyone was inside of the building at the time of the blast.
The wing commander says an urban search and rescue team from Esquimalt, B.C. arrived at the site Thursday.
"They’ve been searching all night long using acoustic and infrared technologies in order to see if there’s absolutely anybody in there," Elliot told CTV News.
"At this point, all military, civilian and contractors who were known to be on the Wing have been accounted for," he said. "We are not missing anybody."
Still, Elliot says the search team is combing through every piece of the building "just to make sure we didn’t miss anything."
Emergency crews are on scene near where a building that was under renovations appears to have partially collapsed. (CTV News)
The incident is under investigation by federal and provincial officials, as well as the military.
"It’s a suspected natural gas leak but I’m not an investigator," said Elliot.
The wing commander added he was grateful for the work that's been done so far.
"I want to thank all the agencies and personnel who reached out to the Wing offering help," he said. "I really appreciate it."
"To the 19 Wing team, I am so extremely proud to be part of this team and to be the commander," he said.
The base says the explosion did not affect any aircraft or impact its air operations.
Earlier this week, teams from 19 Wing Comox helped evacuate hundreds of people from mudslides in British Columbia.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.