- First responders in Fort Worth are dealing with a massive explosion at a hotel
- Photos shared on social media show the first floor windows blown out
- According to CBS, at least ten people were injured, WFAA said it was a gas explosion
An explosion at the Sandman Signature Hotel in downtown Fort Worth, Texas, injured at least 11 people, according to local CBS News.
According to CBS, two people were critically injured and one person's condition was listed as serious. One man told CBS he had to jump out the window because there were no stairs.
Images from the scene show blown windows and there are reports of a possible floor collapse. WFAA reported it was believed to be a gas explosion, and one man said he smelled gas before the explosion.
Fort Worth police have advised people in the area to stay away while emergency responders investigate the scene.
“We are currently dealing with a serious incident.” Please avoid the city center,” the police wrote on X.
“PIOs are on scene. We will provide further details as soon as we can confirm further information.”
Explosion at Fort Worth's Sandman Signature Hotel leaves “at least 10 injured” and is considered a “serious incident” by city police
The streets around the hotel are littered with rubble
The hotel in downtown Fort Worth was seen before Monday's explosion
LIVE: Fort Worth Fire Department responds to a gas explosion at the Sandman Hotel
The Fort Worth Fire Department was on scene, but there were no ambulances.
The rubble lay all over the street, windows and door frames were thrown across the street.
Families were directed to go to Sundance Square, 200 Fifth Street, to be reunited with their loved ones.
The 245-room hotel is located in a 1920s building right in the heart of downtown Fort Worth. Rooms cost around $160 per night.
Craig Trojacek, the fire department's public information officer, said the first call came at 2:43 p.m.
“It looks like some kind of gas leak,” he said. “We’re not sure about that. “We don’t know if the gas came from the explosion or caused the explosion.”
He confirmed that 11 people had been injured – nine of whom were hospitalized – and the hotel owner said “recently” that one person was still missing. He could not say whether the 11 injured were inside or outside the hotel.
“We are still conducting a search of the building,” he said. “We’re going floor by floor trying to make sure we get everyone out.”
“We’re trying to make sure that when we leave the building we can definitely say we’ve got everyone out.”
When asked about a partial collapse of the building, he said he could not comment.
He said some reports suggested the explosion began at the restaurant, where “work was underway,” he said.
Firefighters are pictured in Fort Worth on Monday afternoon
It is impossible to say how long the city center will be closed, said Trojacek.
The gas department was on site and made sure the gas was completely shut off, Trojacek said.
A Fort Worth police spokesman said they had closed streets for a two-block radius and reiterated requests for people not to approach the area.