Married couple confirmed as 2 people who died in explosion and fire in north Edmonton

The death of an 82-year-old woman, one of two people Edmonton police said were unaccounted for following an explosion and fire in north Edmonton on Monday night, was confirmed by police on Wednesday.

Married couple in their 80s confirmed as 2 people who died at scene of fire in north Edmonton Police say another person who was unaccounted for has been found safe A second person is now confirmed to have died in a fire that broke out at a north Edmonton apartment building on Monday night. In a news release issued Wednesday, police said an 82-year-old woman — one of two people they had previously said were unaccounted for following the explosion and fire — had died. Police said the woman was married to an 85-year-old man who died on Monday after jumping from a third-floor balcony to escape the flames.

The fire broke out at about 9:15 p.m. on Monday after a vehicle crashed into an apartment building in the area 82nd Street and 131st Avenue, and ruptured a gas line. Police said that resulted in an explosion and fire at the building. The building has businesses on the main floor and two floors of apartment units above that.

A second resident that had been unaccounted for has been located and is safe, police said Wednesday. Six people were sent to hospital as a result of the fire. Police said the 62-year-old man who was driving the vehicle that hit the building was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Police said Wednesday they are continuing to work with Edmonton Fire Rescue Services to investigate the events that led to the fire.