Responders at the scene of an explosion in Fort Worth, Texas Photo: Fort Worth Fire Department / Glen Ellman
Twenty-one people were injured on Monday in an explosion at the Sandman Hotel in downtown Fort Worth, Texas, local emergency services said.
Video images from the scene showed rubble in a Fort Worth street between two buildings and first responders on the scene. Nobody was killed
Craig Trojacek, a spokesman for the Fort Worth Fire Department, said first responders rescued several people trapped in the basement of the hotel.
Of the 21 people injured, one person was in critical condition, while four others had serious but not life-threatening injuries, Trojacek said. The others sustained minor injuries.
Trojacek said that 26 hotel rooms were occupied by guests. He added that construction was going on in the building at the time, but it was not yet clear if that played any role in the explosion.
"We are currently working a major incident. Please avoid the downtown area," the Fort Worth Police Department said on messaging platform X (formerly Twitter), adding more information would be given later.
We are currently working a Major Incident. Please avoid the downtown area.
— Fort Worth Police (@fortworthpd) January 8, 2024
PIOs are on scene.
We will share more details as soon as we can confirm more information. pic.twitter.com/oI7DxKO7eR
Officials said the blast had "characteristics of a gas explosion - but it's still under investigation at this time".
A family reunification area had been established in the Sundance Square pedestrian district.
- Reuters / RNZ
