One dead reported after massive explosion in Ohio that left seven injured

One person was reported dead after the explosion that occurred Tuesday in Youngstown, Ohio, in which seven people were injured, one of them in critical condition.

According to reports from the authorities, the incident occurred in a building that houses a Chase bank and several apartments near the Central Plaza in the afternoon. Emergency crews asked residents and visitors to the city to stay away from the area while the explosion was investigated and emergency crews arrived.

Youngstown Fire Chief Barry Finley initially suggested it could have been a natural gas explosion, but later clarified that crews were working to determine if there was a gas leak.

“The only thing I know for sure is that there was an explosion,” Finley declared at a news conference Tuesday night.

Early reports from Mercy Health indicated that it was treating seven people who were injured in the incident, with one of them in critical condition.

However, rescue teams recovered the remains of a man from the scene on Wednesday morning. Although his identity has not been released, it was confirmed that the deceased was an employee of Chase Bank. Police were searching for his vehicle after the explosion.

The explosion caused the floor in the basement of the building to collapse, which was flooded. Search teams were working to send a mini-drone to the basement to assist in search and rescue efforts.

After what happened, the building was evacuated and the surrounding streets have been closed to traffic indefinitely due to the possibility of structural collapse.

Speaking to ABC News, a Chase spokesperson said the bank is in constant contact with local officials to verify the security of the buildings and area.

So far, authorities have stated that there is no evidence of any suspicious activity related to the incident.

With information from ABC News