A massive explosion occurred at a bank building in Ohio on Tuesday afternoon, injuring multiple people, local media reported.
At about 3 p.m., a Chase bank building in Youngstown, Ohio, suddenly exploded, sending debris flying through the front windows and capturing the carnage on a street camera, local media reported. WorldwideReports suggest the incident may have been caused by a gas leak, but information is still limited.
Emergency workers rushed to the scene after the accident and rescued people from apartments at the top of the building. structureSeven people have already been transported to local hospitals, one of whom is considered in critical condition, Mercy Health told WFMJ in a statement. (Related: Two killed in mobile home explosion that could be heard a mile away)
“I heard an explosion, looked up and saw black smoke coming out of the side of the Chase building … but it was just a really loud explosion and I just screamed, ‘Oh my God,'” said Deborah Flora, executive director of the Mahoning County Land Bank in downtown Youngstown. Said WKBN.
Here’s shocking security video of the explosion at the Chase Bank building in downtown Youngstown. pic.twitter.com/QdapO52uME
— 21WFMJ (@21WFMJ) May 28, 2024
According to WFMJ, authorities warned residents and local media at the scene to leave the building due to the possibility of it collapsing, and Youngstown Fire Chief Barry Finely ordered the evacuation of nearby buildings.
Finley also noted that one person remains missing. “Right now we have the water turned off, the gas turned off and we’re waiting for Ohio Edison to come and turn off the electricity so we can get out there and search and find that person,” he told WKBN.
