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PHOTOS: Seven Feared Dead As Fire Engulfs Canadian Military Base
At least seven people are feared dead and dozens injured after a massive fire broke out at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta during a live-fire military training exercise on Saturday.
The explosion happened when military training struck a gas line or well, triggering a fire that spread rapidly across the facility. Seven people reportedly lost their lives during the incident, although authorities have yet to confirm the exact death toll.
Defence Minister David McGuinty said emergency teams were responding to the incident alongside local authorities and military personnel. He described the situation as “very, very active and delicate”, adding that he could not recall a similar incident in recent memory.
Prime Minister Mark Carney acknowledged the “serious incident creating a major fire” and expressed solidarity with those affected, saying his “thoughts are with all the brave women and men affected”.
The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon at the military base in eastern Alberta. According to the Municipal District of Wainwright, winds gusting up to 100 kilometres per hour fuelled the flames, which spread beyond the base fences. Local officials alerted the public through online updates at about 5.30pm local time.
Although firefighters have contained the blaze, emergency protocols remain in place, while authorities have urged residents to avoid the area to allow emergency services to operate.
Hospitals also activated emergency procedures to handle casualties. Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton declared a code orange disaster response to prepare for incoming patients.
Dr Warren Thirsk, an emergency department physician at the hospital, warned that the scale of the incident could overwhelm healthcare facilities in Edmonton without coordinated emergency arrangements. He described it as a disaster of a scale expected once every 15 to 25 years.
The incident prompted support from neighbouring communities and provincial governments. Wainwright Mayor Bruce Pugh described it as a “heavy day” for the community, while Alberta Premier Danielle Smith acknowledged the “significant and tragic fire”.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and British Columbia Premier David Eby also offered assistance and dispatched resources to support the response.
It was gathered that Canadian Forces Base Wainwright is a major military training facility used for live-fire exercises. It typically accommodates about 690 military personnel and 300 civilian workers.
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The Enugu State Ministry of Children, Gender Affairs, and Social Development has rescued a 16-year-old girl following her public banishment from the Nenwe community over allegations of abuse involving her father.
The intervention followed a viral video showing the teenager and her father being forcefully marched out of the village by local elders. In the footage, community members were seen raining curses on the duo, who were draped in palm fronds—a traditional symbol of abomination in Igbo culture—with elders declaring their alleged actions a taboo in the land.
Reacting to the incident, the Enugu State Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs, and Social Development, Ngozi Enih, confirmed that the ministry has placed the teenager in a safe shelter. Meanwhile, a law enforcement manhunt has been launched to apprehend the father.
Commissioner Enih assured the public that the survivor’s physical health, emotional well-being, and overall welfare remain the state’s top priorities. She noted that the girl will receive comprehensive psychosocial support to navigate her trauma and begin her recovery journey.
“No child should ever be blamed, rejected, or punished for being a victim of such abuse,” Mrs. Enih emphasized.
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Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation FANSAN YANMA have rescued 27 kidnapped victims, including a six-month-old infant, following a gun battle with suspected terrorists in Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State. BuyMaps
The operation was conducted by troops of the 17 Brigade under the Joint Task Force (North West) after receiving a distress call from residents of Gamji community at about 12:25 p.m. on October 16, 2026, reporting the activities of suspected terrorists in the area.
Security sources said the troops immediately mobilised to the community but the suspected terrorists had fled into the surrounding bushes with their captives before the soldiers arrived.
The troops subsequently launched a pursuit through Gangare Village towards Kamba Village, where they made contact with the fleeing suspects at about 6:05 p.m.
The soldiers engaged the suspected terrorists with superior firepower, forcing them to abandon the captives and flee in disarray into the surrounding bushes.
A subsequent search of the area led to the successful rescue of all 27 victims, comprising 15 males and 12 females, including the six-month-old infant.
The rescued victims were later handed over to the village head of Gamji, Alhaji Falalu Suleiman, following preliminary investigations.
The sources said no casualties were recorded among the troops during the operation, while the casualty status of the suspected terrorists remained unconfirmed.
They added that troops had continued aggressive patrols across the general area to prevent further criminal activities, deny the suspected terrorists freedom of action and enhance the safety of residents.
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