Authorities are investigating the cause of a suspected gas explosion that ripped through the bottom floors of a hotel in downtown Fort Worth Monday afternoon.
Twenty-one people were confirmed injured in the blast, some seriously, with one hospitalized in critical condition. However, there were no fatalities, and all people known to be in the hotel at the time were purportedly accounted for, according to The Dallas Morning News.
The blast occurred around 3:30 p.m. at the Sandman Signature Fort Worth at 810 Houston St. It reportedly originated from a basement-level Asian fusion and sushi restaurant called Musume, per Fox 4 KDFW. The explosion prompted a rush of first responders and the blocking off of the area by police. FBI and ATF agents were some of the law enforcement officers that responded to the blast.
The Dallas Express was on the scene Monday evening and spoke with a Tarrant County resident who said he works nearby. He came down to the blast site after hearing about the incident on the news.
“I haven’t seen any big news in Fort Worth in a while. [There hasn’t been] any type of gas explosion for a while,” said Josh Lederer. “That’s what made it kind of a surprise to me.”
He made note of the significant police presence in the neighborhood. Officers had established a larger perimeter around the damaged building, and dozens of police cruisers and repair trucks could be seen in the vicinity. A few onlookers were taking pictures of the structure and debris from a distance. Some of the debris had been blown hundreds of feet away from the building.
“Looks like everyone’s doing a good job out here. We got a lot of police out here,” he said. “Glad to see that they’re really taking control of the situation.”
One individual who told Fox 4 that he witnessed the explosion said it appeared to originate from the “cellar area.”
“The sidewalk was blown out. Big chunks of sidewalk in the street,” said James Johnson.
Multiple media outlets reported that people in the area could smell gas before and after the explosion.
“We have not made 100% determination, but we want to make it clear that this was some type of gas explosion,” said Fort Worth Fire public information officer Craig Trojacek, per Fox 4. “We are still working on the details of that.”
A spokesperson for Atmos stated that gas has been “isolated to the affected area,” according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker addressed the media Monday evening and praised the city’s first responders for their efforts.
“I am deeply proud of the swift and professional response from our FW and area first responders today. I am humbled by the offers from our state leadership to support our city. Continue to watch @FortWorthFire for updates and pray for the recoveries of the injured,” wrote Parker in a post on X.
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