7 injured, 2 missing after natural gas explosion in eastern Ohio; coroner on scene – WFTV

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Seven people were injured and two others were missing Tuesday after a natural gas explosion at an eastern Ohio building, authorities said.

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The explosion at the Realty Tower, at the corner of Market and East Federal streets in downtown Youngstown, called into question the structural integrity of the building, The Vindicator reported. Of the seven people hospitalized, one was in critical condition, according to WFMJ-TV.

Officials from the coroner's office at the scene of the explosion

Updated at 11:56 p.m. EDT on May 28: Officials from the Mahoning County Coroner's Office arrived at the scene of the explosion in downtown Youngstown shortly after 11:30 p.m. EDT, WKBN-TV reported.

Original report: “As of right now, there are no fatalities,” Youngstown Fire Chief Barry Finley told The Vindicator. According to him, a man and a woman are still missing.

Finley said everyone else in the building had been located, WKBN-TV reported.

“The ground has collapsed in on itself, there's nothing to see, it's full of water, so we honestly don't know if that person is down there or not,” Finley told TV channel. “When we get clearance to enter the building…until then, I will not send any of my firefighters out there to conduct a search, for any reason, at this time.”

A Chase Bank branch occupies the building's first floor, but the 13-story structure also includes numerous apartments, the television station reported.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Mahoning County Emergency Management Agency said there had been a natural gas explosion and the situation was “fluid but under control.” The agency asked people to avoid the area until further notice.

Witnesses in the area reported hearing a loud explosion around 2:45 p.m. EDT, followed by smoke and the smell of gas, WKBN reported.

“I heard the boom, I looked up and I could see black smoke coming out the side of the Chase Bank building,” Mahoning Executive Director Debora Flora told the TV station. County Land Bank which operates downtown. “But it was such a loud boom, you know, that I blurted out, 'Oh my God.'”

Residents of apartments in the building were also shaken by the explosion.

“When I got to the lobby, there was sort of a curved metal door and the rubble of the lobby,” Justin Reynolds told WKBN. “The broken rock and marble had gotten stuck, so there I was with my cat in a cage trying to push the door open.”

It's unclear what exactly caused the explosion, WFMJ reported. State fire marshals are leading the investigation, according to a statement from Enbridge Gas Ohio.

“Our hearts go out to those affected by today’s incident in #Youngstown,” the company tweeted. “Enbridge crews are assisting emergency responders, the area is secure and gas to the surrounding block is shut off as a safety precaution.

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