A house exploded in Nanaimo含羞草研究社檚 Old City Quarter on Sunday night.
Emergency crews were called to the 300 block of Pine Street at 8:20 p.m. on Feb. 27 after a structure exploded next to St. Peter含羞草研究社檚 Roman Catholic Church. The explosion could be felt kilometres away.
Nanaimo RCMP, in a press release, said the home was 含羞草研究社渞educed to rubble.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淚 saw a huge fireball, debris flying everywhere, and after that everything died down,含羞草研究社� said witness Andrew Johnson, who arrived at the church moments before the explosion. 含羞草研究社淧ower went out, came back on.含羞草研究社�
He and other witnesses said multiple people appeared to have suffered injuries in the incident. RCMP said a neighbouring home sustained 含羞草研究社渟ignificant damage from the blast含羞草研究社� and two of that home含羞草研究社檚 residents were transported to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital for treatment after being struck by shards of broken glass.
Homeowners nearby were asked to vacate their homes while utility crews investigated and RCMP at the scene were telling people to stay back due to a gas leak. The RCMP release said officers at 含羞草研究社渄etected a strong odor natural gas coming from the debris.含羞草研究社�
RCMP added that investigators believe the home was vacant.
Father Harrison Ayre, pastor of St. Peter含羞草研究社檚, said staff were just arriving at the church at the time of the incident, prior to the shelter opening for the night.
含羞草研究社淚 hope everyone含羞草研究社檚 OK,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淭his probably could have been a lot worse, too. It含羞草研究社檚 surreal, still.含羞草研究社�
BC Emergency Health Services says six people were hurt and two needed hospital treatment but their injuries are considered superficial.
Natural gas provider FortisBC says in a social media post that the home含羞草研究社檚 natural gas meter was damaged and gas was blowing from it, but crews capped the leak.
Fortis says there has been no confirmation of the cause of the blast, but an investigation is underway.
Huge explosion and bright light flash seen in Harewood, Nanaimo neighbourhood at approximately 8:30 pm.
含羞草研究社� Mandy Moraes Moon (@newmoon_reports)
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-files from Mandy Moraes/Black Press Media and Canadian Press
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