<p>A natural gas explosion ripped the facade off a building in downtown Youngstown, <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/ohio">Ohio</a>, on Tuesday afternoon, leaving two people missing and injuring at least seven others, one critically, officials said.</p>.<p>Local news outlet <em>WKBN</em> reported that the explosion happened just before 3 pm at the Realty Building on East Federal Street, where firefighters were pulling people out of the building and evacuating others from apartments on the top floors. The building also houses a Chase Bank.</p>.<p>Two people, a man and a woman, were missing, Barry Finley, the Youngstown fire chief, told reporters near the site of the explosion. One of them, he said, is believed to be a bank employee.</p>.<p>The Youngstown Police Department, urging people to avoid the downtown area, said in a statement on social media that the explosion occurred near Central Square.</p>.<p>The Mahoning County Emergency Management Agency said in a statement released on social media about an hour after the explosion that natural gas was involved and that the "situation is fluid but under control".</p>.<p>Mercy Health confirmed in a statement that its health system was treating seven people -- one of whom was in critical condition - and said that it was continuing to "closely monitor the evolving situation".</p>.<p>Security video footage shared online by local news outlet <em>21 WFMJ</em> shows the moment of the explosion, as the quiet street is suddenly engulfed in a cloud of dust and debris.</p>.<p>Angela Reighard-Rand, a spokesperson for JPMorgan Chase, said the company was "in close contact with local officials to check on the safety of everyone in the building and area".</p><p>"After that," she added, "we'll work to determine what happened and to assess the damage."</p>.<p>Enbridge Gas Ohio said in a statement that its crews were working on site with emergency responders "to contain the area and have shut off gas to the entire block as a safety precaution."</p>.<p>"I'd like to extend our sincere condolences to those impacted by this event, to their families and to the community," Stephanie Moore, a spokesperson for the gas company, said. "Our primary concern is the safety and well-being of everyone involved."</p>.<p>The exact cause of the explosion is still unknown, Moore said, adding that an investigation will be led by the State Fire Marshal's Office.</p>
<p>A natural gas explosion ripped the facade off a building in downtown Youngstown, <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/ohio">Ohio</a>, on Tuesday afternoon, leaving two people missing and injuring at least seven others, one critically, officials said.</p>.<p>Local news outlet <em>WKBN</em> reported that the explosion happened just before 3 pm at the Realty Building on East Federal Street, where firefighters were pulling people out of the building and evacuating others from apartments on the top floors. The building also houses a Chase Bank.</p>.<p>Two people, a man and a woman, were missing, Barry Finley, the Youngstown fire chief, told reporters near the site of the explosion. One of them, he said, is believed to be a bank employee.</p>.<p>The Youngstown Police Department, urging people to avoid the downtown area, said in a statement on social media that the explosion occurred near Central Square.</p>.<p>The Mahoning County Emergency Management Agency said in a statement released on social media about an hour after the explosion that natural gas was involved and that the "situation is fluid but under control".</p>.<p>Mercy Health confirmed in a statement that its health system was treating seven people -- one of whom was in critical condition - and said that it was continuing to "closely monitor the evolving situation".</p>.<p>Security video footage shared online by local news outlet <em>21 WFMJ</em> shows the moment of the explosion, as the quiet street is suddenly engulfed in a cloud of dust and debris.</p>.<p>Angela Reighard-Rand, a spokesperson for JPMorgan Chase, said the company was "in close contact with local officials to check on the safety of everyone in the building and area".</p><p>"After that," she added, "we'll work to determine what happened and to assess the damage."</p>.<p>Enbridge Gas Ohio said in a statement that its crews were working on site with emergency responders "to contain the area and have shut off gas to the entire block as a safety precaution."</p>.<p>"I'd like to extend our sincere condolences to those impacted by this event, to their families and to the community," Stephanie Moore, a spokesperson for the gas company, said. "Our primary concern is the safety and well-being of everyone involved."</p>.<p>The exact cause of the explosion is still unknown, Moore said, adding that an investigation will be led by the State Fire Marshal's Office.</p>