Seven construction workers were hospitalized following a suspected gas explosion at a building under construction in North York on Tuesday morning. The incident happened around 9:20 a.m. at a site on Esther Shiner Boulevard near McMahon Drive, close to Leslie Street and Sheppard Avenue.
Toronto Fire Services said the blast occurred in the mechanical room on the 22nd floor of the building, which is still under construction. While no fire was found upon arrival, multiple workers showed signs of burn injuries.
Four workers suffered critical injuries, and three others had minor injuries. All injured individuals were on-site workers.
The building was evacuated, and emergency crews, including more than a dozen fire vehicles, responded. The westbound lane of Esther Shiner Boulevard at Provost Drive remains closed.
Authorities say the cause of the explosion is still unknown, and the investigation is in its early stages. The Ministry of Labour and the Ontario Fire Marshal are both involved in the ongoing investigation.