1 dead, 7 hurt after explosion in downtown Youngstown WPXI [Video]

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — UPDATE: One person has been confirmed dead following Tuesday’s explosion at Youngstown’s Chase Bank building.

Police tell Channel 11 news partner 21 News that the body of a 27-year-old bank employee was found in the rubble overnight. He was later identified as Akil Drake.

An explosion decimated what used to be a Chase Bank in Youngstown Ohio on Tuesday afternoon.

The explosion in the 13-story building in the heart of downtown was reported just before 3 p.m., sending debris into the street and leading to the evacuations of people in nearby buildings.

PHOTOS: Downtown Youngstown building seriously damaged in explosion

All the utilities to the building have been shut off. Residents tell us around the time of the explosion they smelled gas, but the cause is still officially under investigation.

“We were just sitting outside and we heard like a big explosion… boom… and then we saw smoke coming from downtown,” Darcella Woodall said.

The explosion sent seven people to the hospital. One …