A Canadian journalist and four Canadian soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan.

Michelle Lang from the Calgary Herald was killed on Wednesday afternoon when the vehicle she was in hit an IED  about 4km south of Kandahar City.

Lang was travelling with a provincial reconstruction team when the IED exploded.

Lang has been in Afghanistan for just over two weeks. She was scheduled to return home to Calgary on January 22nd.

The 34-year-old was engaged.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to Michelle's fiance Michael and her beloved parents," said Dennis Skulsky president and CEO Canwest Publishing. "Michelle, along with being an award winning journalist was also much beloved by her colleagues at the Calgary Herald, Canwest News Service and across our organization. This loss is immeasurable."

Alberta Health and Wellness Minister Ron Liepert issued a statement saying, "We are all very saddened to hear this tragic news. Michelle covered health issues with professionalism, accuracy and thoroughness. She was tenacious in her quest to inform Albertans, and for her diligence she was very well respected. I express my condolences to her family, friends and all who knew her. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this very heartbreaking time."

The names of the soldiers will not be released until next-of-kin have been contacted.

Four other Canadian soldiers and a Canadian civilian officer were also injured in the IED incident.