21 injured as gas explosion rocks a U.S. hotel

21 people were injured on Monday afternoon, January 8, by a gas explosion at a hotel in Texas, USA.

The explosion which blew out at least two floors of the high-rise historic downtown Fort Worth hotel was reportedly caused by a natural gas leak, according to the ATF and Fort Worth Fire Department.

The blast flung doors and entire sections of wall onto the road in front of the 20-story hotel, where authorities said rescue crews found several people trapped in the basement, as per AP news.

Fifteen people were taken to hospitals, including six whose conditions were described as “semi-critical” by MedStar, which provides ambulances and emergency medical services in Fort Worth.

The unfortunate incident occurred at about 3:30 p.m. at the Sandman Hotel, located at 810 Houston St., according to the Fort Worth Fire Department.