Terrifying footage shows massive explosion at Chase Bank in downtown Ohio that left at least seven people injured and two missing
Terrifying footage shows a massive explosion at a Chase Bank in central Ohio, injuring seven people while two others remain missing.
The explosion in Youngstown, which occurred Tuesday around 2:45 p.m., damaged the Realty building on E. Federal Street and blew away its facade. WKBN reported.
Gruesome CCTV footage showed the structure being torn into pieces before huge plumes of smoke rose from the ground.
Fire Chief Barry Finley confirmed that two people are missing, a man and a woman, and stated that all others in the building have been located.
“The floor has collapsed on itself, there’s nothing to see, it’s full of water, so honestly we don’t know if that person is down there or not,” Finley said.
A gas explosion occurred around 2:45 PM on Tuesday in Youngstown, Ohio, damaging the Realty building on E. Federal Street.
Horrifying footage showed huge plumes of smoke billowing from the building as the explosion blew it apart
“If we are cleared to enter the building… until then, I will not be putting any of my firefighters there at this time to conduct an investigation for any reason.”
The missing man’s wife and his colleague both reported that he came to work at the bank on Tuesday, but has not been located since.
The seven injured people were taken to Mercy Health Hospital, with one patient in critical condition, a hospital spokesperson said.
A social media post from the Mahoning County Emergency Management Agency said a natural gas explosion has occurred and the situation is “fluid but under control.” The organization asked people to avoid the area until further notice.
Firefighters helped some people get out of the building, which houses a Chase Bank on the ground floor and also houses several apartments.
Residents reported hearing a loud bang and seeing smoke coming from the building.
The seven injured were taken to Mercy Health Hospital, with one patient in critical condition. Two people are missing
Crews are assessing the structural integrity of the building and the gas has been turned off to the entire block as a safety measure
“I heard the boom, and I looked up and I saw dark smoke coming out of the side of the Chase Bank building… but it was one of those really strong, powerful booms, you know, I blurted out, ‘Oh my God,’” said Debora Flora, executive director of Mahoning County Land Bank, which serves the downtown area.
“When I got to the lobby, there was some sort of metal gate door that was bent in, and the debris from the lobby… the broken rocks and marble were jammed, so I was there with my cat in a carrier trying to open the door to push open,” said resident Justin Reynolds.
Crews are assessing the structural integrity of the building and gas has been turned off to the entire block as a safety measure, an Enbridge Gas Ohio spokesperson told the local news station.
The spokesperson noted that it has not yet been confirmed whether a natural gas explosion was the cause of the explosion.