Authorities in eastern Ohio have issued a public safety alert, urging residents to steer clear of the downtown Youngstown area. 

This comes after an explosion occurred at a Chase Bank building, resulting in multiple injuries, including one critical. 

Chase Bank Explosion

The blast in Youngstown took place on Tuesday (May 28) afternoon around 2:45 p.m., causing significant damage to the Realty building on E. Federal Street. The force of the explosion blew off the façade of the building.

According to Daily Mail, a chilling CCTV clip captured the moment when the structure was violently torn apart, followed by massive clouds of smoke billowing from the ground.

Fire Chief Barry Finley has confirmed that two individuals, a man and a woman, are currently unaccounted for.  However, he assured that all other occupants of the building have been successfully located.

The wife of the missing man and his coworker both stated that he came to work at the bank, but has not been found since. Seven individuals were transported to Mercy Health Hospital, with one patient in a critical state.

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Cause of Explosion Determined

Local residents witnessed a sudden explosion accompanied by billowing smoke at the location.

A recent update from the Mahoning County Emergency Management Agency on social media stated that a natural gas explosion has occurred, and they are actively managing the situation, which is currently described as 'fluid but under control.' 

People were advised by the agency to steer clear of the area until further notice.

Firefighters assisted individuals in evacuating the building, which includes a Chase Bank on the ground level and also contains several residential apartments.

Authorities are urging individuals to steer clear of the vicinity until additional updates are provided. Youngstown police are also urging residents to ensure that communication lines are kept open for emergency purposes, MSN reported.

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