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Dramatic video shows a massive natural gas explosion at a bank in downtown Youngstown, Ohio on Tuesday that injured seven people.

The first floor of a 13-story building on E. Federal Street, which is home to a Chase Bank, blew up around 2:45 p.m., WFMJ reported.

Security footage obtained by the outlet shows the violent blast shattering windows and sending debris flying all the way across the street.

A cloud of thick smoke then engulfs the city block, according to the clip.


  Surveillance video shows a gas explosion in the Chase Bank Building in Downtown Youngstown, Ohio. WFMJ Surveillance video shows a gas explosion in the Chase Bank Building in Downtown Youngstown, Ohio. WFMJ

The entire first floor of the building appears to have been destroyed.

Seven people were hospitalized, including one person in critical condition, according to Mercy Health Hospital in Youngstown.

One person remains unaccounted for, according to Fire Chief Barry Finley. The man’s wife told fire investigators that he went to work in the building on Tuesday morning. Crews have been unable to locate him in the rubble, WKBN reported.

The Youngstown Police Department has told people to stay away from the area.

“An explosion has occurred in the downtown area near Central Square.  Emergency services are on the scene, and the situation is being actively managed,” the department said in a statement.

Several floors of the building above the bank are apartments, which were evacuated by response teams.

People in the area reported a deafening boom followed by the smell of gas.

“I heard the boom, and I looked up and I could see dark smoke coming out of the side of the Chase Bank building… but it was such a really strong, strong boom, you know, I blurted out, ‘Oh my God,’” Debora Flora, who works downtown, told WKBN.

Officials are now working to determine the structural integrity of the building.

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