Explosion displaces dozens of residents from CBRM seniors complex

Nearly 60 people living in a seniors complex in Sydney, N.S., have been forced to leave following an explosion at the building, Cape Breton Regional Municipality Mayor Amanda McDougall confirmed to CBC News.

"What we do know is that there was a significant amount of snow on the roof of the building that had compromised the lines from the propane tank into the building and unfortunately something ignited from within and there was an explosion," McDougall said in an interview Friday evening.

She added she's anticipating a full report from an inspector.

McDougall said one resident of the provincially run Silver Birch Manor is suspected to be seriously injured. She said those who didn't have family to stay with were taken to a hotel with support from the Canadian Red Cross.

The explosion happened around 4 p.m. on Friday. Photos from the scene show a large hole blown out of one side of the building.

First responders, including Cape Breton Regional Police, Fire and Emergency Services and EMO attended the scene.

The explosion comes as Cape Breton continues to dig out after the heaviest snowfall in the area in years. McDougall said she's concerned about other potentially compromised buildings in the area.

CBRM council called a local state of emergency after the snowstorm, which brought 150 centimetres of snow to parts of the island. A provincial state of emergency was not declared, and Premier Tim Houston suggested on Tuesday the municipality's action was a "publicity stunt." 

Houston apologized for his comments soon afterwards.

MacDougall said Friday evening's events showed that the danger of the historic snowfall hasn't passed — and the municipality needs help.

"We need the army here, quite frankly. This is critical when seniors complexes are are exploding," she said.

MacDougall said a restaurant in Sydney, 7 by 7, posted photos to Facebook on Friday showing their ceiling caving in from the amount of snow on the roof. Prior to that, the local animal shelter had to vacate over fears its roof could collapse.

""We need exceptional supports right now to help us with this snow removal and investigations and inspections on structural integrity of buildings — all of it," she said.

"This is exactly why we called the state of local emergency. You know, we've been through these types of events before and ... it's not those immediate moments that are going to show the true depth of the impact of of the the emergency."