Fire, Explosion at Neptune's Quebec Facility

SHERBROOKE, QuebecAn explosion and fire at Neptune Technologies & Bioressources' production facility here has seriously injured at least four people, according to news reports. It has been reported that an explosion in the krill processing facility led to a fire, which is currently producing clouds of smoke that are being monitored for potential toxicity. The plant has been evacuated and information is not yet available on any other possible injuries or whether any employees are missing.

INSIDER spoke briefly with executives from Neptune Technologies, who are onsite at SupplySide West in Las Vegas. They said they are still awaiting word on the extent of the damage, adding: "Our focus is to find out how our colleagues are doing and to monitor the extent of this catastrophe."

Updated at 7 p.m. PDT:

The Edmonton Journal is reporting that two people were killed in the explosion and 19 others hospitalizedfour of them with critical burns and injuries. Emergency management officials said the origin of the fire was large reservoirs of acetone stored at the facility.