All Your Latest News

The explosion killed three people, ruined two homes and hurt about 20 others. (Submitted by Tony Kennard)

Three men died and at least one person was missing after an explosion on Sunday ruined a home and rocked an Edmonton neighbourhood.

The three men, whose names have not been told, died after a home at 91 Street and 180A Avenue exploded at about 1:20 p.m. MT.

Officials said one woman was missing. It was believed three people were injured and several others were treated in hospital for shock.

It was not clear what caused the explosion.

“[We found] upon arrival … one house completely demolished — we’re calling that like nearly ground zero — a crater there. And another building right next to it that is completely ruined as well but still has a bit of standing structure to it,” said Edmonton fire Chief Robert D’Aoust.

At least 15 homes were hurt overall. Nothing was left of one home but a crater, two other homes were demolished, two more sustained severe structural hurt and about 10 other homes in the area suffered significant hurt.

Edmonton fire Chief Robert D’Aoust said at least 20 homes in the surrounding area were hurt. (CBC)D’Aoust said the blast also ignited several external fires in the area, including a wildfire and several vehicle fires.

Mathieu Comeault, 18, was across the street in his house when the blast hit.

“I wasn’t sure what happened,” he said. “I thought maybe a tree had fallen into our house or a car hit our house because it felt like it was immediate, like something happened right there.”

Comeault ran outside and saw debris littering the street.

When he heard people yelling that there were people trapped inside one of the homes, Comeault and several others leapt into action.

“Me and probably about three other guys went up to the door there and … we pulled the one woman out of the basement and we took her kid and I passed him down to somebody else.”

D’Aoust said the woman and her son were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

‘The house was gone’

Vehicles burn in north Edmonton after an explosion Sunday that killed three people and ruined two homes. One person was missing. (CBC)People several streets away reported feeling the blast. Debris and glass were scattered for hundreds of metres.

“I was having a small nap and I heard this huge explosion and jumped off the bed and my mirror shattered before it fell on the floor, pictures fell on the floor,” one woman living nearby said.

“I went up to where [the house] was, and the house was gone.”

Andi-Lynn Bender, who lives nearby, felt the blast in her home.

“I was sitting in my living room and I heard a really huge boom and my whole house shook, so I thought something in my house might have happened,” she said.

Officials estimate at least 70 people were ordered to leave their homes because of the explosion. It was not clear when residents would be allowed to return. D’Aoust said most evacuees were staying with friends and family.

Officials said rescue crews were sorting through the destruction and had blocked off streets leading to the area. Crews plotted to remain on the scene through the night Sunday to sift through debris.

Hazardous materials crews swept the area and no unnatural chemicals were detected. Officials set up a decontamination site on scene where crew members were rinsed off as they left the scene.

Officials said the situation had stabilized and no secondary explosions were expected.

With files from The Canadian Press, CBC’s Andrea Huncar

Singer Justin Bieber, left, and rapper Drake, both from Canada, arrive at the 2010 MuchMusic Video Awards in Toronto on Sunday. (Mark Blinch/Reuters)

The MuchMusic Video Awards were pretty much perfect for B.C. pop-punkers Hedley, who took a leading three trophies at Sunday night’s outdoor bash.

The Abbotsford, B.C., natives won awards for video of the year and post-production of the year for Perfect and pop video of the year for Cha-ching.

Toronto rap star Drake and collaborator Trey Songz each won two trophies for their song Successful (cinematography of the year and hip-hop video of the year) while Mississauga, Ont., hard-rockers Billy Talent also took a pair of trophies, including rock video of the year.

Teen sensation Justin Bieber received a frenzied welcome from the mass of fans who spent days on Toronto sidewalks for the opportunity to see him in person.

He also won the award for international video by a Canadian for his smash collaboration with Ludacris, Baby.

And given the feverish devotion of his ever-broadening fanbase, he seemed a likely choice for the two viewer choice awards he was nominated for as well. Results for those three categories — UR Fave video, new artist and international video — weren’t immediately available.

Meanwhile, show co-host Miley Cyrus wasn’t shut out either.

The 17-year-ancient won the award for international video of the year by an artist for her upbeat single, Party in the U.S.A.

Last year’s hosts, the Jonas Brothers were also rewarded with some hardware: international video of the year by a group for Paranoid.

Ottawa rapper Belly took the night’s other award, nabbing the MuchFACT indie video of the year trophy for his Snoop Dogg collaboration, Hot Girl.

Performers scheduled for the show included glam-pop American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert, Katy Perry, Ke$ha, Down With Webster and Cyrus.

The show’s list of presenters was also filled with teen favourites, including Twilight actors Ashley Greene, Kellan Lutz and Xavier Samuel, Jersey Shore stars Snooki and Pauly D and musical artists Nikki Yanofsky, Karl Wolf and Lights.

As always, the show was held by a set of outdoor stages next to Much headquarters at 299 Queen St. W. in Toronto.

Spirited fans braved a searing day on the concrete sidewalks that encircle the Much building.

Those same fans had lined up for days to nab coveted wristbands to gain entry into the show more than a week before the festivities, then started lining up in the days running up to the show itself to guarantee a prime position.

Graeme McDowell is the first European to win the U.S. Open since 1970. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

In a U.S. Open with golf’s largest stars on the leaderboard, it was Graeme McDowell who played like one.

McDowell seized control after a shocking collapse by Dustin Johnson, then failed to get flustered with Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els lined up behind him. The 30-year-ancient from Northern Ireland wasn’t perfect, but he was excellent enough.

He closed with a 3-over 74 to become the first European in 40 years to capture the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, Calif., getting an embrace on the 18th green from his father.

“You’re something, kid,” Kenny McDowell said, speaking for thousands who watched this unlikely Open unfold along the Pacific coastline.

It was a final round no one expected.

Johnson took a triple bogey on the second hole to lose all of his three-shot lead, and a double bogey on the next hole finished his hopes. Three of the largest stars of this generation were right there, ready to continue the lineage of fantastic champions at Pebble Beach, only to play far below their expectations.

McDowell made only one birdie on an eight-foot putt on the fifth hole, and his final round was the highest score by a U.S. Open champion since Andy North in 1985.

No matter. It added up to a one-shot victory over another surprise contender, Gregory Havret of France, who shot 72.

“I can’t believe I’m standing with this right now,” McDowell said, posing with silver trophy. “It’s a dream come right. I’ve been dreaming it all my life. Two putts to win the U.S. Open. Can’t believe it happened.”

Woods couldn’t believe it, either.

Tiger falters

Poised to end six months of terrible publicity over a shattered personal life, he bogeyed five of his first 10 holes and took himself out of contention with a 75.

Els and Mickelson hung around a small longer and while both had opportunities, neither could capitalize.

Els had a brief share of the lead on the front nine but came undone along the coastal holes — including one stretch of bogey-double bogey-bogey — and never quite recovered.

His hopes finished when he missed his target with a sand wedge on the par-5 14th and took bogey, then missed a four-foot birdie putt on the 15th.

He closed with a 73 to end alone in third.

Mike Weir of Bright’s Grove, Ont., who was one back of the lead after the first round, shot a final round of 4-over 75 and finished tied for 80th.

Mickelson, with another fantastic chance to end a career of disappointment at the U.S. Open, holed a birdie putt from just off the green on the first hole, then didn’t made another birdie the rest of the day. He also shot a 73 and tied for fourth with Woods, missing a chance to supplant Woods at No. 1 in the world.

Woods made only two birdies, but was more troubled by his mistakes.

“I made three mental mistakes,” Woods said. “The only thing it cost us was a chance to win the U.S. Open.”

Johnson implosion

Even so, nothing compares with what happened to Johnson. The 25-year-ancient American looked so unflappable all week, and came apart so quickly.

On the final hole of a round he won’t forget, Johnson missed a two-foot birdie putt and wound up with an 82. It was the highest closing round by a 54-hole leader in the U.S. Open since Fred McLeod shot 83 in 1911.

McDowell finished at even-par 284 and finished 40 years of questions about when a European would capture America’s national championship. England’s Tony Jacklin was the last one, in 1970 at Hazeltine.

McDowell had to work harder than he imagined.

Even under overcast skies and a stiff breeze, the course was as firm and perilous as ever. Davis Like III, with a 71, was the only player among the final five groups who matched par.

“I can’t believe how hard this golf course was,” McDowell said. “No matter how excellent you play … excellent golf got reward, and terrible golf got punished really terribly.”

McDowell got into the U.S. Open by narrowly getting into the top 50 in the world at the deadline to avoid qualifying.

He wound up with his first victory in America to go along with five European Tour victories, most recently the Wales Open last month at the home course for the Ryder Cup in October. He is sure to be part of the European team now, moving up to No. 13 in the world.