FORT WORTH — Firefighters completed an exhaustive search of the rubble in downtown Fort Worth on Tuesday, one day after a massive explosion rocked a historic hotel building, injuring 21 people and littering streets with debris.
No additional victims were found, and rescue workers are confident no one remains trapped in the building, Fort Worth Fire Chief Jim Davis said at a news conference Tuesday. Several blocks immediately surrounding the Sandman Signature Hotel are still considered a “hot zone” and will remain closed indefinitely until deemed safe, which could take several days, authorities warned.
“This is considered the actual immediate hot zone,” Fort Worth police spokesman Jimmy Pollozani said. “We’re asking the community to stay away from this area.”
The toll of the injured remained at 21, one of whom was critically injured and is being treated at Parkland Memorial Hospital’s burn center in Dallas. Four others received serious injuries, including concussions. The rest received minor injuries, which included sprains, eye injuries and lacerations, Davis said.
Two patients remain at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth. Others have been treated and released from JPS and Baylor Scott & White, hospital spokespersons told The Dallas Morning News.
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Authorities believe but have not confirmed the explosion was caused by a gas leak in the basement of the hotel at 810 Houston St., which is home to Musume, an Asian fusion restaurant where construction was ongoing.
Fire department officials said there is no indication the blast was caused by criminal activity or terrorism, and they implored the public to stop sharing false information online. “There is NO THREAT to the public safety in the wake of yesterday’s incident,” the department wrote on Facebook.
The building is not at risk of imminent collapse, Davis said, but a structural collapse engineer is working with the fire department to ensure crews removing debris are not “creating a further problem.”
Davis told the Fort Worth City Council on Tuesday the most significant damage to the building is on the first floor, basement and subbasement.
“There’s concrete down from the first floor pancaked into the basement,” he said. At least one nearby road, Eighth Street, will require repairs.
