NTSB: Possible cut service line in Realty Building basement focus of explosion probe
A possible cut below ground service line in the basement of the Realty Building at 47 E. Federal St., is the center focus of the investigation into be the cause of Tuesday’s explosion that killed one and injured seven, according to representatives from the National Transportation Safety Bureau.
“Preliminary information suggests work crews were present to clear old utility infrastructure,” NTSB Board Member Tom Chapman said in a Thursday press conference.
Chapman said the line was abandoned and not currently servicing the building, but was suspected to be pressurized with natural gas.
“Ideally there should be no gas in it,” he said.
Chapman said his team will be in Youngstown for a week, a preliminary report is slated in 30 days while a final report will be released in 12-24 months.
He said the group is looking for video and other evidence from the matter, which can be sent to witness@ntsb.gov.
The explosion took out the first floor of The Realty Building at 47 E. Federal St., a building that houses a Chase bank and several apartments.
Several city officials have said the suspected cause of the explosion was natural gas.
A Chase worker was found dead early Wednesday.
Youngstown Fire Chief Barry Finley said at a press conference Wednesday morning that everyone has been accounted for.
Here is the link to Wednesday’s press conference bu city officials.
Lunch offered to first responders and those displaced by the explosion
Aspasia Lyras-Bernacki of Penguin City Brewing Co. and Derrick McDowell of The Youngstown Flea & We Are A Generation are hosting an event on Thursday called “Feed The City: Realty Tower Residents & First Responders.”
The event is designed to feed people who were displaced during this disaster, along with offering a “lunch break” to city officials, First Responders (area EMT’s, Firefighters and Police) from the many area local agencies who responded to Tuesday’s explosion.
Who died in the explosion?
Youngstown police said the worker was a 27-year-old man and was recovered by the Youngstown Fire Department.
The Mahoning County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Akil Drake.
City officials said at Wednesday’s press conference that Akil was found in the building’s basement hours after the explosion around 12:30 a.m.
“It was discovered he was at work and observed inside the building right before the blast,” Youngstown Police Lt. Mohammad Awad said in a press release Wednesday morning.
Here is the aftermath of the explosion.
Finley initially cited a natural gas leak as the explosion’s cause but afterward said the cause is being determined.
“All I know for sure is there was an explosion,”Finley told media Tuesday evening.
All seven are undergoing treatment at Mercy Health hospital.
The first floor collapsed into the building’s basement, so rescue crews were using drones to help search for missing people.
The Realty Building is 13 stories tall and has the bank on its ground floor and apartments in the 12 floors above it.
The building was built 100 years ago and is a local historic landmark.
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown issued a statement Tuesday afternoon.
Mahoning County buildings have closed as a result of the explosion and the Board of Elections has stopped early voting. In addition, Tuesday’s Youngstown City School Board has also canceled its Tuesday night meeting.
The Mahoning County Emergency Management Agency cleared the opening for all County Government buildings in downtown Youngstown for May 29. All County Government buildings will be open regular hours Wednesday.
We will update the story with additional details as they come in.
United Press International contributed to this story.
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This story was originally published May 28, 2024 at 3:17 PM.