Seven individuals were hospitalized following a blast at a high-rise construction site in Toronto on Tuesday morning, according to authorities. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene after receiving a report of a gas explosion at a building under construction near Esther Shiner Boulevard and Provost Drive around 9:15 a.m., as stated by Toronto Fire division commander Paul O’Brien during a press briefing. Upon arrival, no fire was discovered, but multiple individuals showed signs of burns, O’Brien noted. The incident occurred in the boiler room on the penthouse level of the building, with the exact number of workers present at the time remaining unclear.
Following the evacuation of workers from the building, paramedics transported seven individuals to the hospital, with three sustaining minor injuries and four facing life-threatening conditions, according to Toronto Paramedic Services Chief Bikram Chawla. Due to privacy considerations, Chawla refrained from providing further details on the nature of the injuries.
In the aftermath of the explosion, construction workers congregated outside the premises. O’Brien expressed uncertainty regarding when workers would be allowed to re-enter the building due to an ongoing inquiry.
One construction worker at the site, Luke Pravica, mentioned hearing about a potential gas leak and explosion causing burns to several individuals. He described the event as worrisome and expressed hopes for the swift recovery of his colleagues. O’Brien highlighted that gas explosions of this nature are infrequent in Toronto, without specifying the type of gas responsible for the blast.
Centerville Construction Corp. released a statement indicating that the incident is under investigation, with further information to be shared as it becomes accessible. Peter Udzenija from Centerville conveyed condolences to the affected construction workers in an email to CBC Toronto.
O’Brien confirmed that an investigation is ongoing, with the Ministry of Labour notified of the situation. A ministry spokesperson disclosed that an inspector has been assigned to probe the explosion, with no additional information to be disclosed while the investigation remains ongoing.