The first floor of the Chase Bank Building, in Youngstown (Ohio), was destroyed by a gas explosion shortly before 3:00 pm on Monday.
Early reports revealed significant damage on the lower level of the building.
#BREAKING Youngstown fire crews are responding to a possible explosion at Chase bank in the Realty building downtown. First responders are ordering people to get back and move away from the building.@21WFMJNews pic.twitter.com/wMFHGAVbwa
— Lindsay McCoy (@LindsayWFMJ) May 28, 2024
The dramatic moment of explosion can be seen in security footage taken from an adjacent building.
Here is the dramatic security video of the explosion at the Chase Bank Building in downtown Youngstown. pic.twitter.com/QdapO52uME
— 21 WFMJ (@21WFMJ) May 28, 2024
Seven people were taken to a local hospital in critical condition. Initial reports stated that no deaths had occurred, but WFMJ’s Lindsay McCoy reported that the fire chief has now said one man is missing.
Per WFMJ:
The first floor is occupied by Chase Bank, but this 13-story building houses many apartments.
Angela Reighard from JPMorgan Chase, who is an associate in regional communications, told 21 News that “We’re in constant contact with local authorities to ensure the safety of all those in the Realty Building, and the surrounding area.” We’ll then work to find out what happened and assess the damage.
International Towers, a nearby apartment building, is being evacuated to ensure safety.
