Multiple people were killed and dozens more were injured when an explosion erupted at a Canadian military base, according to authorities.

The deadly blast occurred on Saturday afternoon at the Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Wainwright in Alberta province, igniting a massive fire that was fanned by high winds and spread from the sprawling military facility into the surrounding rural area, Canadian officials said.

During a news conference on Sunday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said at least four service members were killed in the blast and subsequent "violent fire," and that "dozens more are seriously wounded." Carney called the incident "one of the worst tragedies for the forces on Canadian soil in peacetime." Citing multiple military sources, the Canadian Global Television Network's Global News reported earlier on Sunday that at least seven people were killed and dozens more were injured.