"It is with deep sadness that I can now confirm that four service members have lost their lives and that their next of kin have been notified," Mark Carney said in a statement late Sunday.
Canadian police were alerted shortly after 4 p.m. Saturday local time to a fire in a training area at the Wainwright military base.
Strong winds hampered firefighting efforts, and the flames quickly spread to the surrounding area. On Sunday morning, the fire was reported to be under control.
“A disaster”
Few details have been released about what happened. The incident is under investigation by police and was described as “tragic” by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. According to Premier Carney, the responsible authorities will provide more information on Sunday evening.
There was great concern about a major disaster immediately after the incident. Healthcare facilities in the area were overwhelmed, and a reporter at the scene said several ambulances had been deployed to the rescue effort.
In Edmonton, about 180 kilometers northwest of Wainwright, healthcare facilities were preparing to receive a large number of patients.
Polling stations closed
Wainwright Military Base is one of Canada's most active military training bases, where soldiers train and prepare for combat operations. The base has just over 1,000 personnel.
The incident affected early voting ahead of Monday's referendum on whether the provincial government in Alberta should seek independence from Canada. Two polling stations were closed, and ballots were safely removed from the site.
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