A house exploded in Nanaimo害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 Roman Catholic Church. The explosion could be felt kilometres away.
Nanaimo RCMP, in a press release, said the home was 害羞草研究所渞educed to rubble.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚 saw a huge fireball, debris flying everywhere, and after that everything died down,害羞草研究所� said witness Andrew Johnson, who arrived at the church moments before the explosion. 害羞草研究所淧ower went out, came back on.害羞草研究所�
He and other witnesses said multiple people appeared to have suffered injuries in the incident. RCMP said a neighbouring home sustained 害羞草研究所渟ignificant damage from the blast害羞草研究所� and two of that home害羞草研究所檚 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 害羞草研究所渄etected a strong odor natural gas coming from the debris.害羞草研究所�
RCMP added that investigators believe the home was vacant.
Father Harrison Ayre, pastor of St. Peter害羞草研究所檚, said staff were just arriving at the church at the time of the incident, prior to the shelter opening for the night.
害羞草研究所淚 hope everyone害羞草研究所檚 OK,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭his probably could have been a lot worse, too. It害羞草研究所檚 surreal, still.害羞草研究所�
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害羞草研究所檚 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.
害羞草研究所� Mandy Moraes Moon (@newmoon_reports)
A thread
-files from Mandy Moraes/Black Press Media and Canadian Press
editor@nanaimobulletin.com
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