26 People Injured, 6 Hospitalized After 'Powerful' Explosion at Florida Casino

Explosion at the Seminole Classic Casino in Hollywood.Photo: Susan Stocker/TNS/Zuma

More than two dozen people were injured on Monday after an explosion took place at a Florida casino, according to authorities.

Bitner said the fire suppression system at the casino, which helps put out fires, was receiving bi-yearly maintenance work when the explosion happened shortly before 10 a.m.

Approximately 100 employees and guests were inside the building at the time,The Miami Heraldreported.

The explosion caused the drywall from the second floor to come crashing down onto the first floor as a scene of panic unfolded inside the casino, according to Fox affiliateWSVNand theHerald.

Witness Rainier Hernandez told WSVN it felt like “a big explosion” and recalled how “everybody got out and started running.”

Another woman, who was near the spot where the drywall came down told the outlet that it felt like “a big bomb… went off.”

“It was powerful,” Bitner recalled.

RELATED VIDEO: Casino Shuttle Boat Carrying 50 Passengers Catches on Fire, Killing 42-Year-Old Woman

Members with Hollywood Fire Rescue were immediately called to the scene and arrived around 10:30 a.m. to assess the damage and injuries, per the outlet.

By Monday afternoon, four of the six who were hospitalized had been released, WSVN reported.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free weekly newsletterto get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.

However, later that evening, Bitner confirmed to WSVN that the casino was open again. “We reopened at 8:30, and people have been coming back in there to have fun,” Bitner said.

source: people.com