Terrifying images show a large explosion inside a Chase Bank in central Ohio that left seven people injured and two others still missing.
The explosion in Youngstown, which occurred around 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, damaged the Realty building on E. Federal Street and blew off the facade. WKBN reported.
A horrifying CCTV clip showed the structure being torn apart 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 everyone else in the building has been located.
“The ground collapsed in on itself, there’s nothing to see, it’s full of water, so we honestly don’t know if that person is down there or not,” Finley said.
A gas explosion occurred around 2:45 pm Tuesday in Youngstown, Ohio and damaged the Realty building on E. Federal Street.
Terrifying images showed huge columns of smoke rising from the building as the explosion tore through the structure.
“When we have clearance to enter the building… until then, I will not be sending any of my firefighters there to conduct a search for any reason at this time.”
The missing man’s wife and his co-worker reported that he came to work at the bank on Tuesday, but they have not been located since.
The seven injured people were taken to Mercy Health Hospital and one patient is in critical condition, according to a hospital spokesperson.
A social media post from the Mahoning County Emergency Management Agency said there was a natural gas explosion and the situation is “fluid but under control.” The agency asked people to avoid the area until further notice.
Firefighters helped some people out of the building, which houses a Chase Bank on the ground floor and also has some apartments.
Residents reported hearing a loud bang and seeing smoke coming from the site.
The seven injured were taken to Mercy Health Hospital, one patient was in critical condition and two people were missing.
Crews are working to evaluate the structural integrity of the building and gas has been shut off to the entire block as a safety precaution.
“I heard the boom, I looked up and I could see dark smoke coming out of the side of the Chase Bank building… but it was a really loud boom, you know, I said, ‘Oh my God,'” said Debora Flora, director. Mahoning County Land Bank executive who works at the center.
“When I got to the lobby, there was some kind of metal door that had been bent, and the debris from the lobby… the broken rock and marble had gotten stuck, so I was there with my cat in “A hauler tries to push the door to open it,” said resident Justin Reynolds.
Crews are working to evaluate the building’s structural integrity and gas has been shut off to the entire block as a safety precaution, an Enbridge Gas Ohio spokesperson told the local media outlet.
The spokesman said it has not been confirmed whether the cause of the explosion was a natural gas explosion.
