All nine people injured when an explosion rocked a plastics factory in Edmonton, Alta. Friday are expected to make a full recovery, CTV News has learned.
Initial reports revealed one person suffered serious injuries and eight others were taken to hospital for their injuries, fire department spokesperson Nikki Booth said.
All have since been released from hospital.
"All of them have been taken to the hospital by EMS and all the remaining staff are accounted for," she said.
CTV News has learned the injured are contractors and they are not employed by AT Plastics. Company officials said the contractors were fire-proofing the area at the time of the explosion.
According to reports, the blast at the plant near the city's Refinery Row, could be felt up to 20 kilometres away.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing a flash, then clouds of thick black smoke after the blast occurred at about 7:50 a.m. Mountain Time.
Terry Akranis, a truck driver who was at the plant picking up a load at the time, said it sounded like someone detonated "a big bomb or dynamite."
"I was halfway through the gate when the explosion happened," he said. "First thing I did was close my window and crawl down onto the floor."
Firefighters were on the scene battling the blaze as of Friday morning. Booth said they were letting the flames burn off from the leaking organic peroxide as a safety precaution to prevent a second explosion.
About three hours after the first blast, crews continued to hose down a silo and holding tank where the explosion happened.
Hazmat officials are on scene of the blast, where there are some concerns the peroxide could be harmful if it enters the water system.
Michael Stubblefield, AT Plastics general manager, said they are ensuring the liquid remains contained.
"It's extremely rare," he said of the explosion. "We'll do a very thorough investigation to understand exactly what has happened here today and will do everything possible and necessary to put in place measures to address whatever caused the incident."
No cause has been determined.
In a statement sent out to the media around 10:30 a.m. by the Celanese Corporation, the parent company of AT Plastics, the organization says all raw material and energy sources have been contained.
"This incident poses no threat to the surrounding area and there should be no concern to the community and residents," the release stated.
Traffic is being diverted away from the plant until the risk is eliminated.
Two nearby schools were locked down Friday after the board issued an environmental alert. Students and staff at Gold Bar and Fulton Place schools are being kept indoors as a precautionary measure.
Classes are operating as normal. Capilano School is also keeping its students indoors during this morning's recess and lunch hour.
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