FORT WORTH, TX – A sudden explosion at a downtown hotel in Fort Worth, Texas, resulted in 21 injuries on Monday afternoon, according to local authorities.
The Fort Worth Fire Department initially responded to calls about a structure fire at the Sandman Signature Fort Worth Downtown Hotel shortly after 3:30 p.m. Shortly after, they received multiple reports of a possible explosion at the same location, according to Craig Trojacek, a spokesperson for the department.
A distinct smell of gas was reported in the vicinity, though it remains unclear whether this was the cause of the explosion or a consequence of it. Trojacek indicated that a gas leak might have triggered the chaos, but this has not been confirmed.
Aerial footage revealed sections of the building’s wall and parts of window frames blown out from the first and second floors. Debris, including insulation and parts of windows, was scattered across the sidewalk and road.
The number of injuries was later revised from the initial 11 to 21. Among the injured, one individual was in critical condition, four were seriously injured, and the rest suffered minor injuries.
At the time of the explosion, 26 rooms at the hotel were occupied. Investigators were conducting room-to-room checks to ensure all guests were accounted for. One guest, previously unaccounted for, has since been located.
Adam Woods, a valet at the hotel, described seeing “smoke everywhere” and being nearby when the explosion occurred.
In response to the incident, Fort Worth police immediately cordoned off a two-block radius near the hotel. All Tarrant County offices in downtown Fort Worth were closed following the explosion.