Video shows the moment an explosion rocked a building in downtown Youngstown, Ohio, killing one person and injuring seven, authorities said.
Mahoning County Emergency Management said a “natural gas explosion” occurred Tuesday afternoon and urged residents to “avoid the area until further notice.”
Footage from the scene showed debris flying into the street after the explosion at the real estate building, which includes a Chase Bank branch on the ground floor and apartments above.
Youngstown police later told WKBN that the body of a 27-year-old male bank employee was found at the scene.
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On Tuesday, May 28th, an explosion occurred at a realty building in Youngstown, Ohio, killing one person. (WYFX)
“I heard an explosion, looked up and saw black smoke coming out from the side of the Chase building. It was a really loud explosion and I just screamed, ‘Oh my God,'” witness Deborah Flora, executive officer of the Mahoning County Land Bank, told the station.
Youngstown Fire Chief Barry Finley said the explosion caused the building’s first floor to collapse into the basement, calling into question the structural integrity of the building.
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An aerial view of the scene in downtown Youngstown, Ohio, following the explosion. (KDKA/NNS)
Seven of the injured were taken to Mercy Health Hospital in Youngstown, where a hospital spokesman told The Associated Press that one person was in critical condition but gave no further details.
Firefighters helped others escape the building.
Smoke could be seen rising from the scene of an explosion in Youngstown, Ohio, on Tuesday. (Ron Flaviano/RTV)
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Mahoning County Emergency Management said Tuesday the situation is “fluid but under control.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
