4 Canadians killed in Mexico hotel blast

Four Canadians are among the six people killed in an apparent natural gas explosion at a resort in Playa del Carmen, officials have confirmed.

The other two dead are believed to be hotel workers.nfl kids jerseys As many as 15 people were hurt in the blast Sunday morning at the 676-room Grand Riviera Princess Hotel in the tourist region known as the Mayan Riviera.

A local official told CBC News that four Canadians were among the victims. Jesus Puc, director of the civil protection agency, said the Canadians killed are a nine-year-old boy, a 51-year-old man and two other men between 25 and 30 years old. Puc said eight other Canadians were injured and are in hospitals.

Mexican authorities said initialPatriots Jersey investigations were focusing on the possibility that naturally occurring gas from a nearby swamp had built up under the hotel lobby's floor and somehow ignited.

Canadian consular officials are at a hospital where at least some of the injured were taken.

They said Canadian citizens at the resort who needRavens Jersey emergency consular assistance should contact the Canadian Consulate in Playa del Carmen, at 52 (984) 803-2411.

They can also call the Department of Foreign Affairs emergency operations centre, collect, at 613-996-8885. An email can be sent to sos@international.gc.ca.

There are reports more than 60 Canadians were guests of the hotel.

James Gaade of St. Catharines, Steelers Jersey Ont., told The Canadian Press he was walking on the beach when he heard the explosion and saw smoke coming from the platinum lounge, a part of the resort that costs extra.

"I looked and you could see that the roof [of the restaurant] had collapsed," he said. "There was a large crater in the area, debris. Everyone said their hotel room shook. The glass at neighbouring restaurants all cracked and blew out. The tiki hut that was in the area, that was on fire."

Gaade estimated that more than 50 per cent of the guests Jets Jersey staying at the resort were Canadians and said he had met people from Ontario, Alberta, Winnipeg and Quebec.

Many of the Canadians had booked their holidays with Westjet Vacations.

"Our primary concern is identifying those Westjet Vacation guests Saints Jersey that are staying at the hotel and determining their status at this time," Richard Bartrem, vice-president of public relations for Westjet said. "We do have representatives on the ground at the hotel as well as we have activated grief counsellors should anybody actually need any of their services."

Bartrem also said thePackers Jersey company is holding a meeting Sunday night with the Canadians to find out how many of them want to interrupt their vacations and return to Canada.

"We're in the process of securing additional aircraft in the event that there are people that are looking to get out early … we will be able to accommodate that," Bartrem said.