An explosion at a heating and cooling plant located below the Supreme Court of Canada yesterday injured three men, one seriously.
The explosion is believed to have occurred in the boiler located in the 1920s-era building shortly after noon.
As of yesterday evening, investigators were unable to access the building to determine the specific cause of the explosion.
Ottawa fire Chief of Special Operations Kim Ayotte said the explosion caused substantial damage to the inside of the building and there were concerns of the potential of collapse, which prompted the evacuation of all 27 workers in the building.
Paramedics treated three men when they arrived at the scene.
The most badly injured was a 51-year-old male with second-degree burns to 60 per cent of his body and a large laceration to his head.
The heating portion of the plant is comprised of six large high-pressure steam boilers that provide heat to government buildings along Wellington Street, including Parliament Hill.
