Manitoba, Canada is reeling from a devastating home explosion that rocked a neighborhood in Winnipeg’s east side. The explosion, which occurred on Camrose Bay in Transcona, left at least one home completely destroyed and caused significant damage to multiple other structures.
According to Scott Wilkinson, Deputy Chief of Fire Rescue Operations for the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service, the explosion resulted in “significant catastrophic” damage to the residence and adjacent homes. Emergency crews, including the fire department and police, are actively searching for any occupants who may have been in the destroyed home at the time of the explosion.
Residents in the area described the explosion as feeling like an earthquake, with debris scattered around rooftops and neighboring houses. Eyewitnesses reported chaos and panic as the force of the blast caused windows to shatter and roofs to catch fire.
Karl Lent, a neighbor to the exploded house, recounted the terrifying experience of being thrown to the ground by the force of the explosion. As the community attempts to come to terms with the aftermath, many residents have been forced to evacuate their homes due to safety concerns.
At this time, authorities have not determined the cause of the explosion and are urging the public to avoid the area to allow emergency responders to manage the scene safely. Multiple emergency units, including fire and rescue, remain on-site to extinguish fires and assess the extent of the damage caused by the explosion.
The devastating incident has left the neighborhood in shock, with residents grappling with the aftermath of the destruction. As investigations continue into the cause of the explosion, the city of Winnipeg is rallying to support those affected by the tragic event.