1 dead, 7 injured in natural gas explosion in Youngstown

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — One person was killed and seven injured following a natural gas explosion Tuesday afternoon that caused extensive damage to a building in downtown Youngtown, Ohio, authorities said.

The Youngstown Police Department said a 27-year-old employee of Chase Bank, where the blast happened, was killed in the explosion.

His body was recovered during rescue efforts, according to the Youngstown Fire Department.

All other people in the incident have been accounted for according to police.

The blast, which occurred around 2:45 p.m., blew off the facade of Realty Tower. Firefighters helped some people get out of the building, which houses a Chase Bank on the ground floor and has apartments in upper floors.

The blast collapsed the first floor into the basement, Youngstown Fire Chief Barry Finley said, and the building’s structural integrity is in question so no firefighters were being allowed in to conduct a search.

The seven injured people were taken to Mercy Health Hospital in Youngstown. A hospital spokesperson said one person was in critical condition, but did not release further details.

A social media post by the Mahoning County Emergency Management Agency said there was a natural gas explosion and the situation is “fluid but under control.”

The blast shook the downtown area of the city of about 60,000 residents. Bricks, glass and other debris littered the sidewalk.