[CrisisAlert] Burns Lake BC - Explosion at sawmill - At least 19 injured - Reports that number of injured may be as high as 28 -

At least 19 people were taken to hospitals with minor to serious injuries after an explosion and fire tore through the Babine Forest Products mill, east of Burns Lake, B.C., a health-care official said Saturday.

Burns Lake RCMP responded to reports of an explosion at the mill around 8:15 p.m. PT Friday. Initial reports gave a higher injury count of 28, but Northern Health spokesman Steve Raper revised the number early Saturday.

It was a normal shift and the mill, 220 kilometres west of Prince George, was fully staffed when the blast occurred, according to police. Workers reported smelling gas moments before the explosion. There are unconfirmed reports it may have been a natural gas explosion.

The Lakes District Hospital in Burns Lake quickly became overwhelmed and several of the injured were taken to Prince George for treatment, while a few went to the hospital in nearby Vanderhoof.

Others had to be transported to hospitals as far away as Edmonton and Vancouver.

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