7 injured after bank explosion in Youngstown, Ohio

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - A powerful natural gas explosion ripped through a downtown Youngstown building on Tuesday afternoon, injuring seven people and leaving two others unaccounted for, according to fire officials.

The building's stability is in question

The explosion, reported around 2:45 p.m., caused extensive damage to the Realty Tower, a mixed-use building housing a Chase Bank branch on the ground floor and apartments above. The force of the explosion tore off the building's facade and sent debris cascading onto the sidewalk.

Youngstown Fire Chief Barry Finley said emergency crews rescued several occupants and evacuated the surrounding area. Search efforts for the missing individuals are on hold due to concerns about the building's structural integrity.

“The first floor collapsed into the basement,” Finley explained. "The building's stability is in question, so firefighter entry is not possible at this time."

Youngstown rocked by natural gas explosion, injuring 7, 2 missing

The seven injured were transported to Mercy Health Hospital in Youngstown. Hospital officials confirmed one person is in critical condition, but provided no further details on the extent of other injuries.

The Mahoning County Emergency Management Agency took to social media to assure the public that the situation, while serious, is under control.

“There has been a natural gas explosion downtown,” the agency’s post reads. "The situation is fluid but under control."

The explosion sent shockwaves through the downtown area of ​​Youngstown, a city of approximately 60,000 residents. The cause of the blast remains under investigation.