A Prince George soldier has apparently been seriously injured in an on-duty blast in Afghanistan.

The Citizen learned from sources close to the incident that a male member of the Canadian Forces with family connections to Prince George was injured within the last five days during an undisclosed mission.

It was confirmed that the incident involved an explosion but sources did not disclose what the nature of the blast was other than it occurred while the soldier was carrying out his mission.

Military spokeswoman Capt. Josee Bilodeau told The Citizen Tuesday evening that in most cases, due to security protocols and medical privacy, those injured in Canadian military operations are not discussed by military staff or such incidents even confirmed to have happened.

In the cases of fatality, the protocols are different, she said. There have been two fatalities among Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan in 2010, none this month.

Since 2002 when the international mission started in Afghanistan, 140 Canadian soldiers and four civilians have been killed serving in the multinational mission.

Of those, two have connection to Prince George: Cpl. Matthew McCully killed on May 25, 2007 while serving with the 2nd Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters and Signal Squadron; and journalist Michelle Lang killed Dec. 30, 2009 while reporting for the Calgary Herald. Both died as a result of explosions.

Another Canadian soldier from Prince George, Sapper Chris Greenaway, was seriously injured in the line of duty and has continued on in his military pursuits.

A number of other Prince George people have served in Afghanistan are are there now, in military and civilian capacities.