21 injured explosion Fort Worth hotel Texas News Room Odisha

21 injured in downtown Fort Worth, Texas hotel explosion, possibly due to gas leak. Investigation ongoing. Governor monitoring situation.

At least 21 people were injured in an explosion at a hotel in downtown Fort Worth, Texas, on Monday afternoon. The Fort Worth Fire Department reported that one person was in critical condition following the explosion at the Sandman Signature Hotel, which occurred around 3:30 p.m. local time. Officials said that a gas leak was part of the incident, but they couldn't immediately determine if it caused the explosion.

According to Forth Worth Fire Department spokesman Craig Trojacek, there was construction being done at the restaurant, but it was not confirmed if that was the source of the explosion. It was unclear how many of the injured were hotel guests or pedestrians. Fourteen people were transported to area hospitals, and one person who was initially unaccounted for was found during a sweep by firefighters. Firefighters rescued people who were inside the hotel's basement, and shortly after the explosion, they were seen going through debris from the incident spread throughout the street, including window pieces and parts of the exterior.

The investigation into the cause of the explosion is ongoing, and officials are focused on ensuring the structural integrity of the building. The hotel, located near the Fort Worth Convention Centre, opened last May following an extensive reconversion of the Waggoner Building, a Fort Worth historical building originally built in 1920. Governor Greg Abbott said in a statement that he was monitoring the situation and ready to deploy additional resources if needed.