Seven individuals were hospitalized following an explosion at a high-rise construction site in Toronto on Tuesday morning, according to police reports. The incident, described as a gas explosion, prompted the response of fire crews to a building under construction near Esther Shiner Boulevard and Provost Drive around 9:15 a.m., as highlighted by Toronto Fire division commander Paul O’Brien during a press briefing.
Upon reaching the scene, the fire crews did not encounter any flames but discovered multiple individuals exhibiting burn injuries, O’Brien stated. The blast occurred in the boiler room on the penthouse level of the building, with uncertainties regarding the number of workers present at the time.
Workers were promptly evacuated from the building as a safety measure, as confirmed by Toronto police. Subsequently, paramedics transported seven workers to the hospital, with three sustaining minor injuries and four facing more severe, life-threatening conditions, according to Toronto Paramedic Services Chief Bikram Chawla. Chawla refrained from divulging specific injury details out of respect for patient privacy.
In the aftermath of the incident, construction workers congregated outside the site. Luke Pravica, a construction worker on-site, mentioned rumors of a potential gas leak and explosion resulting in burns to multiple individuals. Expressing concern, Pravica wished for a swift recovery for his colleagues.
O’Brien remarked on the rarity of gas explosions in Toronto without specifying the type of gas involved in this occurrence. An ongoing investigation has been initiated, with the Ministry of Labour informed about the situation. An inspector has been designated to probe the explosion, as confirmed through a statement from a ministry spokesperson who declined to provide additional information during the investigative phase.