Firefighters stand next to the charred remains of the refinery tanker. Firefighters stand next to the charred remains of the refinery tanker. (CBC)Eight people were taken to hospital after a tanker truck exploded while refuelling at a PetroCanada refinery in Montreal on Tuesday night.

An ambulance service spokesman said the power of the blast launched the truck's driver into the air.

Benoit Garneau said the driver was taken to hospital with minor injuries, including back pains.

Garneau said seven others at the east-end refinery were transported to hospital, where they are being treated for shock.

Montreal fire department spokeswoman Josée Gosselin said 10 firetrucks rushed to the scene, where it took firefighters less than an hour to get the blaze under control.

She said the scorched truck was hitched to a double-tanker trailer when it exploded.