2 Men Killed in House Collapse During Renovation on B.C.'s Savary Island

Two men are dead following a tragic accident on Savary Island, a small island off British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast, after a house collapsed during a renovation project.

The Powell River RCMP say they were called on April 6 about an incident involving people trapped under a house that was being lowered onto a new foundation.

Emergency crews from the island’s volunteer fire department and B.C. Emergency Health Services rushed to the scene and confirmed the house had collapsed during the process, trapping three people beneath it.

Two of the men were pronounced dead at the scene. A third man managed to escape with non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to hospital.

RCMP said members of the fire department worked tirelessly to raise and stabilize the house in an effort to reach the trapped men, but the collapse proved fatal for two of them.

Investigators have ruled out foul play, and RCMP say there is no indication of criminality in the incident.

WorkSafeBC confirmed to CBC News that it is aware of the incident and is currently gathering more information as part of its investigation.

“At this time, we do not have any additional details to share,” the agency said in an emailed statement.

Savary Island is a remote and largely off-grid island known for its beaches and seasonal population.