3 Albertans among dead in Mexico blast

Three Albertans were among the five Canadians, and seven people in total, killed in an explosion at a Mexican tourist resort south of Cancun.

The explosion ripped through the lobby of the 676-room Grand Riviera Princess Hotel in Playa del Carmen on Sunday morning. Mexican officials said the blastmay have been caused by a buildup of gas from a nearby swamp.

Darlene Ferguson, 51, from Ardrossan, Alta., died after celebrating her son's weddingin the resort town. Her brother, Barry Hoffman, was at home in Sherwood Park when his brother called from Mexico.

"We're all in shock," he said. "It's devastating to the whole family."

Hoffman told CBC News that Fergusonwas going to the beach with her two-year-old grandson just before breakfast. Shewas less than 10 metresfrom the lobby when the explosion sent debris flying, Hoffman said.

"She was awake and she thought maybe she had a few ribs crushed," he said. "But she obviously had some major injuries there. They took her to the local hospital and they couldn't do anything for her there."

He said his sister couldn't wait to celebrate her son's wedding in the Mayan Riviera. "She was a terrific wife and mother, grandmother. She looked forward to the wedding and the holiday."

Ferguson's grandson was also hurt and is being treated in hospital in Cancun, Hoffman said. He's expected to survive.

Otherfamilymembers are trying to get back to Canada as soon as possible.

Christopher Charmont, 41, and his nine-year-old son, John, were from Drumheller, Alta.

Charmont's sister Debbie Moorefound out about the tragedy Sunday after returning home from work."I got home and (the family) were all sitting around the TV, and I said,'You guys are just being silly.'"

Moore texted Charmont's wife and heard the devastating news.

'He was just here'

Charmont's wife told Moorethat she and the couple's 10-year-old daughterwere not in the lobby, but camerunning when she heard the explosion.

"She knew they [Christopher and John] were there. She saw the devastation. She checked the people that were injured. She couldn't find Chris. She couldn't find John.

"One of the hotel employeessaid, 'He was just here.' And that's when it all started to unfold."

Charmont's wife is in shock, while her daughterisbeing sedated, said Moore.

Charmont was deeply involved with John's hockey team in Drumheller and the holiday was break ina busy hockey schedule, she said.

Moore said she thought it was horribly "ironic" when she heard the blast may have been caused by agas buildup, Her brother worked in the gas industry asan instrument mechanic.

"He made sure that this didn't happen to anybody. It's so ironic, so wrong."