Canada base explosion kills at least four service members, Carney says

An explosion at a military training base in Alberta killed at least four Canadian service members and seriously wounded dozens, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Sunday, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. The blast sparked a fire that strong winds pushed into the surrounding rural area.

The fire extended beyond one of Canada's largest and busiest military training bases, drawing a response from military and civilian emergency services. The cause remains under investigation, and the Department of National Defense said there were no indications of terrorist activity.

ABC7 Los Angeles reported that the fire broke out around 4 p.m. Saturday at the base near Wainwright. High winds helped spread the flames beyond the military training area.

The casualty reports differed. Global News, citing multiple military sources, earlier reported at least seven deaths, while Carney put the minimum death toll at four service members during his Sunday news conference.

Global News also reported, citing Canadian Armed Forces sources, that a live-fire exercise struck a gas line or gas well. That account has not been established as the cause; military officials said their investigation was continuing.

The base houses the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Center, which conducts realistic battlefield exercises. Defense Minister David McGuinty addressed the incident at a news conference at the base Saturday night.

In a Sunday social media post, Adm. Giuseppe Cavo Dragon, chair of the NATO Military Committee, expressed solidarity with Canada on behalf of all 32 allied chiefs of defense.