A bus crash has left multiple people injured, including some seriously, in northern British Columbia.
First responders were called to the scene along Highway 39, south of the community of Mackenzie, after the bus left the roadway Wednesday morning.
Authorities have not confirmed how many people were hurt, but a spokesperson for the Northern Health authority said the Mackenzie and District Hospital and the University Hospital of Northern B.C. in Prince George both declared a Code Orange to deal with the mass-casualty event.
“We do not have details to share at this time about the number of patients involved, or their conditions,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
Residents are asked to avoid both hospital emergency departments unless they are suffering a life-threatening situation, the spokesperson said.
Cpl. Brett Urano of the B.C. RCMP said multiple ambulances, including air assets, were called to the scene.
“At this early stage of the investigation, limited details are available,” he said in a statement.
A spokesperson for IREN, a multinational data centre company, told The Canadian Press the bus was chartered by one of its contractors.
The firm’s website says it operates three data centres in B.C., including an 11-hectare facility in Mackenzie and a 12-acre site in Prince George.
The company did not immediately respond to a request for more information from CTV News.
B.C. Emergency Health Services confirmed paramedics were responding Wednesday to the 11300 block of Highway 39.
“Multiple ambulance resources have been dispatched including air ambulances,” the agency said. “More information will be provided when it becomes available.”
The highway was expected to remain closed for several hours as emergency personnel tended to the victims and investigators examined the scene.
There are currently no alternate routes around the closure, police said.
“We ask the public to avoid the area and allow emergency personnel the space they need to safely respond to this incident,” Urano said.
“Drivers should expect significant delays and are encouraged to check DriveBC before travelling.”
A social media post from the nearby Mackenzie Secondary School said the incident did not involve a bus from the school and all its students are safe.
“One of our school buses has been dispatched to the area to provide support and assistance,” the school said. “However, this bus is not involved in the incident.”
With files from The Canadian Press
