00:00 In a dramatic incident on Monday, January 8, an explosion rocked a historic hotel in
00:09 Fort Worth, Texas.
00:11 The force of the blast shattered windows and scattered substantial sections of debris across
00:17 downtown streets, resulting in injuries to 21 individuals.
00:21 Among the injured, one person is reported to be in critical condition, according to
00:26 the authorities.
00:27 The explosion forcefully propelled doors and entire wall sections onto the road in front
00:32 of the 20-story hotel.
00:34 Rescue crews responding swiftly discovered multiple individuals trapped in the basement.
00:40 Fifteen people were subsequently transported to hospitals, with six among them in semi-critical
00:46 condition, as reported by MedStar, the provider of ambulances and emergency medical services
00:51 in Fort Worth.
00:52 At the time of the explosion, officials revealed that more than two dozen rooms were occupied
00:58 at the Sandman Signature Hotel.
01:00 Authorities suspect a gas leak as the cause of the incident, which occurred in the middle
01:05 of the afternoon at the beginning of the work week.
01:08 The hotel was reportedly undergoing construction at that time.
01:12 Eyewitness Charlie Collier, working nearby, described the aftermath, "There was debris,
01:18 there was insulation, there was office furniture."
01:21 He witnessed a large flash of a sound resembling thunder.
01:25 Technicians from Atmos Energy, a Dallas-based natural gas distributor, were examining the
01:30 blast site on Monday.
01:32 A spokesperson for the Railroad Commission of Texas, the state's oil and gas regulator,
01:37 said an emergency inspector was also on the scene and working with local authorities.
01:43 Northland Properties Co., the Canadian company that owns the hotel, released a statement
01:47 expressing collaboration with officials to investigate the cause and extent of the explosion.
01:53 The company emphasized its commitment to the safety and well-being of team members and
01:58 guests, offering full support to those injured during this challenging time.
02:03 Notably, the Sandman Signature Fort Worth Downtown Hotel, with 245 rooms, has a rich
02:09 history.
02:10 Originally built in 1920 as the Wagonoor Building in honor of Cattle Rancher and Oilman William
02:16 Thomas Wagonoor, acknowledged for its historical significance, the building has been listed
02:22 on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979.
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