At least 21 people were injured, with one in critical condition, following a blast at the Sandman Signature Hotel situated in the heart of Fort Worth, Texas, on January 8, 2024.
Authorities suspect a gas leak was the cause of the blast, which resulted in significant damage and trapped several individuals.
The explosion occurred at the 245-room, 20-story hotel located at 810 Houston Street. It caused extensive destruction, scattering debris and parts of the building’s walls across the road.
According to Craig Trojacek, a Fort Worth Fire Department spokesperson, more than 20 hotel rooms were occupied at the time of the incident. Multiple individuals were found trapped in the hotel’s basement.
Emergency responders, including the Fort Worth Fire Department, were on site shortly after the explosion, with the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also involved in the investigation. The Fire Department reported that there was a noticeable smell of gas in the area, and windows and other structural components were blown out of the building.
Footage and photographs from the scene showed firefighters navigating through piles of rubble, shattered glass, and twisted metal. Social media videos captured the explosion’s immediate aftermath, revealing the damage’s extent. One individual was seen receiving medical assistance for a bloodied forehead.
Charlie Collier, a 31-year-old witness, described the scene as chaotic, with debris, insulation, and office furniture from the hotel’s first few floors blown onto the street. Nearby residents reported smelling gas prior to the explosion, leading to the evacuation of buildings in the surrounding neighborhood.
Of the 21 injured, four were in serious condition, and one was in critical condition. Authorities are still investigating the exact cause of the explosion. The Sandman Signature Hotel had been undergoing construction, including in a restaurant within the hotel, but it is unclear if this was the location of the blast. Three of the injured were employees of the restaurant.