On Tuesday afternoon, an explosion rocked downtown Youngstown, Ohio, near Central Square.
Ohio explosion: Here’s everything we know
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According to reports, the blast resulted in the death of a bank employee and injuries to seven others, one critically.
The explosion occurred in a building housing a Chase bank and apartments. Initially believed to be a natural gas explosion, authorities are investigating if a gas leak was the cause.
Youngstown Fire Chief Barry Finley confirmed the explosion’s details during a press briefing, stating:
“All I know for sure is that there was an explosion.”
The investigation is ongoing to determine the precise cause of the incident. The explosion led to a partial collapse of the building, flooding the basement, and complicating rescue efforts.
Early Wednesday morning, the body of the bank employee was recovered from the site.
Search crews used a mini-drone to navigate the flooded basement in their efforts. Meanwhile, the injured were treated at Mercy Health, with one person remaining in critical condition.
In response to the incident, the building was evacuated, and surrounding streets were closed indefinitely due to concerns about structural stability.
A Chase spokesperson mentioned that the company is in close contact with local officials to ensure the safety of everyone in the building and the surrounding area.
“After that, we’ll work to determine what happened and to assess the damage,” the spokesperson added.
No evidence of suspicious activity has been found so far.
