Parksville post office evacuated, closed after powder escapes from package

Parksville’s post office was evacuated and closed after a cloud of powder escaped from a package on Thursday.

The RCMP’s explosives disposal unit was travelling to Parksville from the Lower Mainland to test the substance.

A “bit of a cloud” was created when a bag of parcels was dumped onto a cart for processing about 10 a.m., said Sgt. Stephen Rose, of the Oceanside RCMP.

It was not clear which parcel was the source of the powder.

There were about 10 or 12 people in the building.

One person directly handled the packages and there were other staff working nearby, Rose said.

The post office was closed “out of an abundance of caution,” he said.

Employees exposed to the powder were checked by medical staff. No one appeared to be injured.