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
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.