A pair of explosions followed by a fire tore through a nursing home near Philadelphia on Tuesday, killing a female employee and a resident and injuring at least 20 others, according to local officials.
The blasts, believed to have been triggered by a natural gas leak, struck the Silver Lake Nursing Home in Bristol Township, about 21 miles northeast of Philadelphia. Authorities said all residents and staff have since been accounted for, with the injured transported to nearby hospitals.
Police Chief Charles Winik said officials feared for several hours that people were missing as flames and explosions severely damaged the building. Fire Marshal Kevin Dippolito said multiple residents and staff were initially trapped inside a collapsed section of the structure.
Emergency responders were first alerted shortly after 2:00 p.m. EST, when the Bucks County emergency dispatch center received reports of an explosion at the facility. Firefighters arriving at the scene encountered extensive damage, including a major structural failure.
Dippolito said crews were met with “a major structural collapse,” with a portion of the building’s first floor falling into the basement below. Firefighters worked to rescue victims trapped by debris, blocked stairwells, and disabled elevators, venturing into unstable areas of the basement despite the lingering presence of gas fumes.
“We got everyone out that we could, that we could find, that we could see, and we exited the building,” Dippolito said. “Within approximately 15 to 30 seconds of us exiting the building, knowing there was a heavy odor of natural gas around us, there was another explosion and fire.”
The front of the nursing home appeared to have been blown outward from the interior, while much of the remaining structure stayed upright, though windows throughout the building were shattered. Television footage showed heavy smoke and flames engulfing the damaged facility following the initial blast.
The exact number of people inside the building at the time of the explosions was not immediately confirmed. The nursing home is certified for up to 174 beds, according to Medicare records. Local media reported that more than 50 patients, ranging in age from 50 to 95, are typically present at the facility.
In the chaotic moments after the first explosion, bystanders joined police and firefighters to help evacuate residents, officials said.
“This is the Pennsylvania way, neighbors helping neighbors in a moment of need,” Governor Josh Shapiro said during a briefing with emergency officials.
Authorities said an investigation into the cause of the gas leak and subsequent explosions remains ongoing.
Originally reported by Bastiaan Slabbers and Steve Gorman in Reuters.
