Massive Explosion Rocks Fort Worth, Texas Hotel Leaving 11 Injured

An explosion has just rocked a Fort Worth, Texas hotel leaving 11 people injured.

Following the explosion, which occurred at the Sandman Signature Fort Worth Hotel, MedStar Ambulance reported one of the injuries was critical and two of the injuries as being "serious." The other nine injuries are being reported as "minor."

The explosion left the first two floors of the hotel completely demolished and even did some damage to the surrounding sidewalks.

According to Craig Trojacek, the public information officer for the Fort Worth Fire Department, the surrounding areas smelt like gas though it has not yet been determined if the explosion was caused by a gas leak.

According to investigators, "There is a smell of gas here in downtown. We're not sure if the smell of gas was caused by the explosion or the fire itself, or if that's what caused the explosion."

Fort Worth Fire has since completed its search of the building and it's been cleared.

The initial cause of the explosion is still under investigation. No fatalities have been reported.

An eyewitness, who was at the hotel at the time of the explosion, spoke with CBS, who said there was a lingering smell of natural gas just before the explosion occurred. Although the scent was not strong, he does remember asking one of his friends, "Do you smell natural gas?"

Right before the explosion, the second floor of the hotel filled with smoke, so guests of the hotel ran for the emergency exit staircase. However, once they opened the door they found that most of the staircase was missing, so they had to jump five or six feet down in order to get out of the hotel.

Adam Woods, who is a valet worker, was walking in the area when another valet worker informed him to avoid 8th Street (the street on which the hotel was located.)

"The whole first floor, the Sandman Hotel, right next to the garage where we park our cars … it's like, everything is blown up. People coming out of the building … it was kinda scary. I don't know what to think," Woods told NBCDFW. "I was 3 to 5 seconds from turning down the street. It could have been me. I seen [sic] a lady she was walking down that street as well and she got caught up in it. It's very sad."

Governor Greg Abbott released a statement:

"The State of Texas is in close contact with Mayor Parker, Sheriff Waybourn, and other local partners and first responders in Fort Worth to assist with emergency response efforts following the tragic explosion at the Sandman Hotel. We continue to monitor the situation and stand ready to immediately deploy any additional personnel and resources needed to keep Texans in the area safe and out of harm's way. Cecilia and I ask all Texans to pray for those who were injured in the explosion, as well as those bravely responding to keep others safe."

The investigation is ongoing.