Youngstown, Ohio – Following a massive explosion that rocked a building in downtown Youngstown earlier this week, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed on Thursday that a cut natural gas line was discovered in the basement of the severely damaged structure. Despite the finding, investigators have yet to determine if the cut line played a role in the powerful blast.
According to NTSB board member Tom Chapman, the gas line was not supposed to contain gas but was found to be pressurized. The line was connected to the main service line but did not service the building. Chapman mentioned that third-party work to clear out old infrastructure in the basement may have led to the line cut and subsequent explosion, although he did not suspect any foul play.
The explosion, which occurred on Tuesday afternoon at Realty Tower, resulted in the death of a bank employee and several injuries. Part of the building’s ground floor collapsed into the basement, and debris scattered onto the street. NTSB investigators described the damage as “devastating.” They anticipate issuing a preliminary report within 30 days after being at the scene in Youngstown for about a week.
Pipelines are considered a mode of transportation, which is why the NTSB has taken the lead in investigating the incident. First responders, captured on a Mahoning County deputy’s bodycam video, arrived at the scene within minutes to conduct search and rescue operations. The video shows the deputy assisting firefighters in rescuing individuals trapped in the wreckage, with reports of natural gas leaking from the area near the front of the building.
Among the injured, seven individuals were transported to Mercy Health Hospital in Youngstown. As of Thursday, one woman remained in critical condition, while three others were in stable condition, and three had been released. Among those injured was 27-year-old Akil Drake, a bank employee who was inside the building at the time of the explosion, as per police reports. Firefighters heroically rescued individuals from the building as they worked to clear the debris.