A significant explosion rocked a senior living apartment complex in Austintown, Ohio, on Saturday, injuring several individuals. The blast, which occurred just before 1 p.m., caused considerable damage to the Phoenix House apartment building, as reported by FOX 8.
Assistant Chief Tom O’Hara of the Austintown Fire Department confirmed that multiple people sustained injuries in the incident. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported at the time.
The explosion left a devastating impact on the building, reducing a large section of it to rubble. One resident, Cindy Duke, described the harrowing experience to FOX 8, saying the explosion “felt like a bomb.” Her account paints a vivid picture of the chaos and fear that gripped the community.
Don Lampley, another resident who was watching the Ohio State game with a friend, recounted the shocking moment. Despite being wheelchair-bound, he vividly remembered the “big, loud blast, then BOOM!” shaking his surroundings.
The incident has left the community reeling as authorities work to determine the cause of the explosion and ensure the safety of the residents. In the wake of this disaster, the focus remains on aiding those affected and piecing together the sequence of events leading up to the explosion.
Another resident, Don Lampley, who has no legs, told the outlet he was watching the Ohio State game with a friend when “there was a big, loud blast, then BOOM!”
The Phoenix House Apartments in Youngstown, Ohio prior to the explosion. (Google Maps)
The cause of the explosion has not yet been released.
The Austintown Township Police Department and Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital.
The cause of the explosion has not yet been released. (iStock)
The Austintown Fire Department declined inquiries.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates
