Eight Canadian soldiers have been injured in Afghanistan after the armoured vehicle they were travelling in struck an improvised explosive device during a routine patrol Friday afternoon.
The soldiers were all airlifted to the Role 3 hospital at Kandahar Airfield for treatment, according to Canadian Forces spokesman Maj. Jay Janzen.
"They're reported to be in good condition and have self-notified their next of kin. All are expected to make a full recovery," Janzen said Saturday.
The soldiers were on patrol in Kandahar's Arghandab District when the explosion occurred around 1 p.m. local time.
The Arghandab region has been particularly volatile for coalition forces, as it's been the site of two battles with the Taliban in the last year.
Taliban militants are also known to move fighters and weapons through the area and into Kandahar City.
The latest incident shows just how much the threat of IEDs to the lives of coalition forces in Afghanistan has grown, Janzen said.
So far this year, improvised explosive devices (IEDS) have killed eleven Canadian soldiers.
On Sept. 7, Sgt. Scott Shipway was the 97th Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan after his armoured vehicle hit a roadside bomb.
"The IED threat in Kandahar province is pervasive," Janzen said. "It's everywhere and we have equipment and procedures to deal with that threat."
In a separate incident, an ISAF soldier, whose nationality was not revealed, was killed after a landmine exploded near Kabul on Saturday.
With files from The Canadian Press
