Explosion in Nanaimo destroys vacant home, two people taken to hospital

Two people were sent to hospital after a vacant home in Nanaimo was destroyed by an explosion Sunday evening.

Residents in Nanaimo say they heard the deafening boom and are posting photos of the debris scattered across the area.

The explosion was heard around 8:20 p.m. in the downtown area and felt for several blocks.

A home was completely destroyed in an explosion Sunday night in Nanaimo, the cause is under investigation. Feb. 27, 2022. (Courtesy Luke Antrim @Lukeantrim)

Mat Wright lives about two kilometres away from the blast and told CityNews the impact was so strong it shook his home.

“We saw this like blue flash through the curtains. And then a few seconds after that, the entire house shook. So I was thinking immediately earthquake. Our family moved out to the lawn, and then all the neighbours came out as well wondering what was happening.”

Soon after, Wright said he saw a number of lit-up emergency vehicles heading towards the downtown core area.

Luke Antrim lives a few hundred metres away and had just put the kids to bed when he heard, and felt, the blast.

“It absolutely shook the house. I ran outside to see what happened. It felt like a truck or something had hit a telephone pole, or something massive.  My neighbours were outside, some of their windows were smashed,”  Antrim said.

“The house was absolutely gone, absolutely destroyed. It was a very, very scary couple of moments.” he said.

“It was an absolute carnage,” he added.

RCMP say crews are in the area where the explosion went off near Pine and Fitzwilliam streets.

Emergency crews are in the area of Pine St at Fitzwilliam St, where at approximatley 8:20 PM, a vacant home was destroyed by an explosion.The immediate area is closed to the public. First responders are asking motorists to avoid the area.Updates to follow @cityofnanaimo

— Nanaimo RCMP (@NanaimoRCMP) February 28, 2022

Fortis BC says they are aware of the explosion, adding they have sent staff to the scene at the request of emergency services.

We are aware of an explosion in Nanaimo. We have a technician dispatched to the scene at the request of emergency responders.

— FortisBC (@FortisBC) February 28, 2022

In a statement, BC Emergency Health Services says ‘two patients have been transported to hospital with minor injuries and additional patients are being treated by paramedics at the scene for minor injuries.’

Mounties say the immediate area is closed to the public and are urging drivers to avoid the area.