Explosion at hotel in Texas leaves at least 11 injured

An explosion at a hotel in Fort Worth, Texas, United States, this Monday (8), left at least 11 people injured and large pieces of a building scattered in the city center.

One of the victims is in critical condition, and two others in serious condition. There's a person missing.

According to the Fort Worth Fire Department, there was a gas leak, but it is not yet possible to confirm whether this was the cause of the explosion.

The incident happened at the Sandman Signature Fort Worth Downtown Hotel, according to fire department spokesman Craig Trojacek. The building is located close to the city hall and convention center.

An image from WFAA, WFAA's affiliate network CNN, shows debris on the street in front of the building. Parts of the building's facade had been torn off in the explosion.

Fort Worth Communications Director Reyne Telles noted that “there was an explosion in the city center” and “there was a cloud of smoke seen higher than the skyscrapers.” Telles reported that there is debris scattered around the city hall area.

“We are currently working on a serious incident. Please avoid downtown,” the Fort Worth Police Department warned in an X post.

Fort Worth City Council member Carlos Flores said in a Facebook post that there was a gas leak and explosion at West 7th Street and Houston Street.

Witness reports “scariest thing” he ever saw

A witness reported seeing people leaving the hotel with bloody faces and others on stretchers after the explosion, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.

Witnesses told the newspaper that they had family members at the hotel and that they were injured.

Barbara Jacobs, 58, commented that she normally passes by the building on her way home to a nearby apartment building, but “something told her not to.”

“When I heard the bang, I was in the middle of the street. Seeing it firsthand, my God, it was the scariest thing I’ve ever seen,” he highlighted.