Youngstown, Ohio – A gas explosion in the downtown Realty Building has left one person dead and injured seven others. A newly released video provides a glimpse into the chilling moments leading up to the explosion that rocked the building.
The footage captures the chaos inside the building as the fire alarm blares, prompting individuals to evacuate. One resident, Ashia Simmons, recounts the harrowing experience of swiftly leaving the building with her 10-month-old son just minutes before the explosion occurred.
Shortly after Simmons exits, another resident, Deanna Rossi’s son, Vito Colella, manages to escape through a different staircase. The tense moments unfold as debris falls, soot fills the air, and the building is engulfed in smoke following the explosion.
The aftermath of the incident is captured in video clips showing firefighters on the 12th floor, where the damage is evident. Simmons, who has since relocated to Georgia, reflects on the trauma of narrowly escaping the catastrophe that unfolded within minutes of her departure.
Investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board are ongoing to determine the cause of the explosion, which occurred six minutes after crews working in the basement cut a gas line. Updates from Mercy Health reveal that seven individuals were treated as a result of the explosion, with five being treated and released while two remain hospitalized but in stable condition.
The residents of the Realty Building are left grappling with the emotional and physical toll of the incident, with Simmons expressing lingering pain and memory loss in the aftermath. The community awaits further updates and answers as they come to terms with the devastation caused by the sudden explosion in downtown Youngstown.