At least 11 people were injured due to a natural gas explosion that occurred this Monday afternoon in a hotel in Fort Worth, a city that belongs to the metropolitan area of Dallas, Texas (USA).
The explosion occurred at 3:45 p.m. local time (21:45 GMT) at the Sandman Signature hotel and left a large amount of debris and brought down part of the building’s façade.
At a news conference, Fort Worth Fire Department spokesman Craig Trojacek said 11 people were taken to the hospital, one of whom was in critical condition and two with serious injuries.
Emergency personnel are still searching the rubble for possible victims.
The hotel is located in the city center, close to City Hall and the convention center. It is part of the WT Wagoner Building, a 20-story tower that was built more than 100 years ago. In 1979 the construction was included in the National Register of Historic Places and in 1985 it underwent restoration.
The US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) said initial investigations suggest the explosion was caused by natural gas.
Police have blocked off several blocks around the property and urged the public to avoid the city center, where there is still the smell of gas.
Fort Worth has a population of about 750,000 people, more than 30% Hispanic, according to Census data.