7 people hurt, 1 dead, in building explosion in downtown Youngstown, Ohio

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (TND) — People were asked to avoid the downtown area of Youngstown, Ohio, Tuesday after a major explosion blew out windows of businesses including a Chase bank branch.

“Emergency services are on the scene, and the situation is being actively managed,” police wrote earlier in the evening, adding, “Stay away from the vicinity to allow emergency personnel to address the situation without obstruction.”

The Youngstown Fire Department reported it was from a possible natural gas leak.

Police reported seven people were injured and one man was killed. The 27-year-old man who was an employee at the bank was recovered during rescue efforts by the fire department.

People told WKBN they heard a loud boom that shook buildings. Then, there was smoke, and they smelled gas.

WFMJ reported a structural engineer was at the scene and evacuations were ordered all around, in case of a collapse.

The building that houses the bank is 13 stories and there are apartments upstairs. The Red Cross is helping people affected.

ncG1vNJzZmivmpawtcKNnKamZ56axLR7zZqroqeeYsSwvsudZnBloJq8sbjEZp%2BuqqRivK%2BxjJypoqyZmK6tuNhmoKdlkqq2rbDIp55mnailubC%2FyKilZqGeYrGww82tprCmXa68trrGrKuor55ivKm1zg%3D%3D