Deaths and injuries reported after incident at Canadian military base in Alberta

An incident at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in the province of Alberta has left a number of people dead and others injured, Canada's Defence Minister David McGuinty announced late on Saturday. The number of casualties and the cause of the incident have not yet been made public.

In a statement, McGuinty said he was saddened to report that there had been both fatalities and injuries on the base. He said more information would be released in the coming hours and days.

Prime Minister Mark Carney described what happened as a serious incident that created a major fire. In a social media post, he said his thoughts were with all the women and men affected, and that the federal government was working closely with the Government of Alberta and local authorities.

About the base

According to the Canadian government, Wainwright is one of the busiest army bases in the country. It hosts the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre and the 3rd Canadian Division Training Centre. The base lies about 210 kilometres east of Edmonton, Alberta's capital, and roughly 110 kilometres southwest of Lloydminster.

The story is still developing, and further details are expected as authorities provide updates.