Employee found dead inside grocery store's walk-in oven

A 19-year-old female employee was found dead inside the walk-in oven of a supermarket in Canada.

ABC News reported that the woman was found in the bakery department of a Walmart store in the municipality of Halifax in the province of Nova Scotia on Oct. 19.

In a statement, Halifax Regional Police said the investigation "has not yet reached a point where the cause and manner of death have been confirmed."

Authorities noted that the investigation is "complex" and involves several partner agencies.

According to ABC News, investigators are working with the Occupational Health and Safety and the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service.

"An investigation of this nature may take a significant amount of time," the police said.

The police also asked the public "to be mindful of sharing speculative information on social media," noting of its impacts on the employee's loved ones.

Chris Lewis, a public safety analyst, told ABC News' partner organization CTV News that they're looking at different potential medical causes, the technology, the infrastructure around access to that location, and the mechanism involved.

Amanda Moss, a spokesperson for Walmart, said the Nova Scotia store is closed until further notice.

"We are heartbroken and our deepest thoughts are with our associate and their family," Moss said in a statement sent to ABC News. "Our focus remains on taking care of our associates and making sure they have the support they need."

Moss told CTV News that Walmart is offering employees on-site support, including grief counseling and virtual care access.

The Nova Scotia Department of Labor, Skills, and Immigration, meanwhile, has issued a stop work order for the bakery and a piece of equipment at Walmart.

The department said that since the investigation is ongoing, it can't disclose additional details at the moment.