Seven individuals were hospitalized following a blast at a high-rise construction site in Toronto on Tuesday morning, according to police reports. Toronto Fire division commander Paul O’Brien stated that fire crews were alerted to a gas explosion in a building under construction near Esther Shiner Boulevard and Provost Drive around 9:15 a.m.
Upon arrival, the crews discovered several individuals with burn injuries, but no fire was present, O’Brien explained. The incident occurred in the boiler room on the penthouse level of the building, with uncertainty regarding the number of workers present at the time.
All workers inside the building were promptly evacuated, as confirmed by Toronto police. Toronto Paramedic Services Chief Bikram Chawla disclosed that paramedics transported seven workers to the hospital, with three sustaining minor injuries and four facing life-threatening conditions. Chawla refrained from elaborating on the nature of the injuries out of respect for privacy concerns.
Following the occurrence, construction workers congregated outside the building, awaiting further updates. O’Brien expressed uncertainty about the timeline for workers to re-enter the building due to the ongoing investigation.
Construction worker Luke Pravica, who was on-site, mentioned rumors of a potential gas leak and explosion resulting in burns to several individuals. He expressed concern for his colleagues’ well-being and wished them a swift recovery.
O’Brien noted that gas explosions of this nature are unusual in Toronto but refrained from specifying the type of gas responsible for the explosion. Centerville Construction Corp. released a statement asserting that investigations were underway, promising to disclose additional details when available.
Peter Udzenija from Centerville extended sympathies to the affected construction workers, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. The Ministry of Labour has been informed of the incident, with an ongoing investigation in progress, O’Brien confirmed.
A spokesperson for the ministry confirmed that an inspector has been assigned to probe the explosion, withholding further details until the investigation concludes.