YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — One person is now confirmed dead following Tuesday's explosion at the Chase Bank building in downtown Youngstown.
A report from Youngstown police obtained by 3News early Wednesday morning says the body of a 27-year-old man has been recovered from the scene. While his name has not been released, police said the man was an employee of Chase Bank who "was observed inside the building right before the blast."
Chase Bank provided the following statement in response to the news: "The JPMorgan Chase family mourns the loss of our colleague. Our hearts go out to their family as well as our injured employees, their families and others affected by this tragedy. We will continue to work with local officials to support them."
EARLIER COVERAGE DETAILS
According to the Mahoning County Emergency Management Agency, "there has been a natural gas explosion in downtown Youngstown. The situation is fluid but under control. Please avoid the area until further notice."
Seven people were taken to the hospital and one person is in critical condition following the explosion, according to a statement from Mercy Health shared with WFMJ. Youngstown Fire Chief Barry Finley had previously said two people -- a man and a woman -- were unaccounted for, but the search suspended late Tuesday night.
Per WFMJ, Chase Bank occupies the first floor of the 13-story building, which also houses numerous apartments. The neighboring apartment building International Towers was evacuated for safety.
"The whole entire building shook," Bill Rusu, who works at the DoubleTree hotel across the street, told WKYC. "We heard it; it was a loud explosion. Then we walked over to the windows and we saw a big cloud of dust."
Frank Inman, from Cincinnati, was staying at the DoubleTree and had just arrived in Youngstown. He was coming down the hotel stairwell at the time of the blast.
"There was just smoke; I didn't know what I was inhaling," Inman said. "There was a gas smell, and there was just thick debris."
Sources tell 3News the explosion was so strong, it left a crater in the basement of the bank. The search for the missing was put on hold due to the instability of the building.
A spokesperson for Enbridge Gas Ohio put out the following statement at approximately 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday:
"I’d like to extend our sincere condolences to those impacted by this event, to their families and to the community. Our primary concern is the safety and well-being of everyone involved.
"On Tuesday, May 28 at 2:51 p.m., Enbridge Gas Ohio crews were called to respond to a reported explosion in downtown Youngstown. Public safety is our top priority, and we are onsite and working closely with local emergency responders to contain the area and have shut off gas to the entire block as a safety precaution.
"The cause is not known at this time. An investigation will be led by the State Fire Marshal’s office, and we will assist in any way we can. This process can take time. Our thoughts are with those who have been impacted by this event."
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) put out the following statement on social media just after 5 p.m.:
"My team and I are monitoring the ongoing situation following the explosion in downtown Youngstown. While we wait to find out more, we thank the firefighters, police, and medical personnel who arrived on the scene quickly & are actively working to keep everyone in the area safe."
3News' Ryan Haidet and Anna Meyer contributed to this report.
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