Woodstock,an Explosion and Fire

WOODSTOCK – Seven people are missing and several residents are suffering injuries following an explosion and fire at an apartment building in Woodstock early Sunday morning.

As of early Sunday evening, police would not confirm fatalities, and in a release, suggested some of the missing may be out of town.

Woodstock police said at an evening press conference that officers will continue to search overnight for the seven people who are still unaccounted missing.

McEwen said the gas has been shut off to the residents of Victoria Street and the surrounding streets cordoned off as firefighters and police continue to investigate.

"I was literally standing in the bedroom doorway. Next thing there is a big bang and the whole wall is gone and bricks are coming through," said Cindy Gayle, a resident of the Victoria Street apartment building.

Residents were quickly moved to a temporary shelter set up by the Red Cross at Goff Hall in the Woodstock District Community Complex.

Gayle said she was one of the lucky ones. She had already gotten up and was in the process of cancelling plans with her daughter because her husband wasn't feeling well.

Within seconds, the couple made their way out of their three-bedroom apartment on the main floor. The hallway was blown apart and the door to the apartment across the hall was gone. Gayle said she and her neighbour both smelled a gas odour following the explosion.

"We got our friend and said 'That's it, let's get out of here' and we went out through the balcony. We were so lucky we were on the main floor," she said.

While on regular patrol in the area, Const. Michelle Dorland of the Woodstock Police Service spotted the fire moments after the explosion at approximate 8:35 a.m.

Twenty-eight firefighters battled the blaze and 20 police officers patrolled the streets, cordoning off large sections of the city from traffic.

"We were focused on thorough search and rescue and maintaining a defensive approach to the fire. We've done an exterior search and we'll have to wait for the fire marshal's and a structural engineer come in," said Deputy Fire Chief Brian Arnold.