Texas: 21 injured in gas explosion at hotel in Fort Worth
An explosion in downtown Fort Worth on Monday afternoon left at least 21 people injured and caused significant damage to a hotel, likely due to a gas leak, according to authorities.
In an evening update, police reported one person in critical condition and four seriously injured. Of the injured, 14 were transported to a hospital, and one person sought medical attention independently. Initially, there were reports of a missing person, but later it was confirmed that the individual had been located.
The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. at the Sandman Signature hotel, and while the cause of the explosion was initially unclear, there was a noticeable smell of gas in the vicinity, said Craig Trojacek, a spokesperson for the Fort Worth Fire Department. The explosion reportedly originated in a restaurant under construction within the hotel.
Later, the Fort Worth Fire Department, via social media, indicated that a gas leak was the probable cause of the explosion, although confirmation was pending. Atmos Energy, the natural gas provider for North Texas, stated that they were investigating the incident.
Among the injured were three employees of Musume, a contemporary Asian restaurant located inside the Sandman, according to Josh Babb, the restaurant's co-founder. He expressed devastation, noting that the restaurant was closed during the incident, and stated that the three employees were in stable condition receiving medical treatment.
Footage and images from the scene depicted extensive damage to the hotel's ground floor, housed in a historic century-old building, with debris scattered across the street.
Witnesses, such as Christian Alvarez from the nearby Pink
