Explosion in north Regina blows out restaurant wall

Regina's firedepartment says there were only minor injuries from an explosion in the north end of the city Wednesday afternoon.

A wall of Luiggi's Pasta House was blown out, with a river of cinder blocks falling across the front end of an SUV parked at the building's southwest corner and building materialsdangling from the damaged roof.

A post on the Luiggi'sFacebook page just after 6:30 p.m. CST on Wednesday saidthe explosion was because of a gas leak in the building's south side.

It said the restaurant had not yet opened for dinner service and all staff made it out safely.

In a social media post, Regina Fire and Protective Services said crews were called to the scene at about 4:13 p.m. CST Wednesday. The post, published about an hour after crews were called, said there were three minor injuries and that afire at the scene was under control.

Chris Harmer, whoworksat Prairie Mobile Communicationslocated in a strip mall about 160 metres south of Luiggi's saidthe explosion rattled the windows and was so intense he initially thought a vehicle had rammed into their building.

"Ironically enough, when I saw there was no damage to the building, it kind of made me worry more," Harmer said.

"To make that sort of impact that I felt and heard, it had to have been something more significant [that happened]," he said.

The Regina Police Service said officers were also on scene and are asking drivers to avoid the area near the restaurant, which is at the northernmost section of Albert Street N.

Regina police lifted road closures to thesouthbound lanes of Albert Street N., which were closed to traffic between Ninth Avenue N. and Seventh Avenue N for part of Wednesday.

Police said they are investigating the incident and no further information is available.