Eyewitnesses recounted the horror after a blast rocked at the Phoenix House Senior Living apartment complex in Austintown, Ohio on Saturday.
While no fatalities were reported, Fire Department Assistant Chief Tom O’Hara confirmed several people were injured, with at least one suffering severe injuries requiring hospital transport, and others sustaining minor wounds.
Narrating his ordeal, Michael Kosach, a resident who lives on the second floor of the facility likened the explosion to “an earthquake“.
“I didn’t know how bad it was until I got out,” he told WKBN. Another resident, Don Lampley, who is disabled, recalled watching the Ohio State game with a friend when he heard “a big, loud blast, then boom!”
Cindy Duke, another occupant, said, “It felt like a bomb.”
Many residents evacuated quickly, gathering outside wrapped in blankets and clutching their pets in the chilly afternoon.
Impact of the blast
The explosion reportedly caused extensive damage to the building, blowing out walls and scattering debris, exposing the interiors of affected apartments.
Emergency responders, including the Austintown Fire Department and local police, arrived swiftly to manage the chaotic scene.
Gas leak suspected to be reason for blast
Authorities are actively searching and clearing the building to ensure everyone’s safety and to assess structural integrity. “Multiple searches have been completed, and another is underway to confirm an all-clear,” said O’Hara.
Police have organised the evacuation of uninjured residents by buses to Austintown Senior Centre and local schools, ensuring vulnerable occupants are sheltered.
The cause of the blast remains under investigation, though several witnesses reported a strong gas odour near the site, raising suspicions of a gas leak, People reported.
Phoenix House primarily houses elderly, disabled, and low-income residents.
Authorities have urged the public to avoid the area as investigative and safety operations were underway.