At least two people have died and several are missing after two explosions at a nursing home in Bristol Township, outside the US city of Philadelphia.
The explosions on Tuesday caused a fire and the collapse of a portion of a nursing home building, officials and police said.
The explosions at the Bristol Health and Rehab Center in Bristol Township, about 21 miles (33 kilometers) northeast of Philadelphia, were believed to be caused by a gas leak.
What do we know about nursing home explosions?
Five people are believed to be missing, hours after the explosions and fire at the facility, Bristol Fire Marshal Kevin Dippolito told a news conference Tuesday evening. However, some people may have left the spot with family members, he said.
In addition to the two confirmed deaths, an unspecified number of people were injured, Dippolito said.
Dippolito said firefighters found a “major structural collapse” after receiving first reports of the explosion Tuesday afternoon and arriving at the scene.
News footage from local TV showed large flames and smoke billowing from the destroyed building shortly after the first explosion.
Local gas company PECO said its workers were responding to complaints of a gas leak when the first explosion occurred.
“PECO crews shut off natural gas and electric service to the facility to ensure the safety of first responders and local residents. It is not known at this time whether PECO equipment, or natural gas, was involved in this incident,” the company said in a statement.
A second explosion occurred seconds after rescuers retreated
The fire marshal said several nursing home patients and staff who were initially trapped in the collapsed portion of the building were rescued by first responders.
Many victims were pulled from the debris. Dippolito said firefighters were able to rescue at least two more people from the collapsed basement before retreating due to gas fumes.
“We got everybody out that we could, that we could find, that we could see, and we got out of the building,” the fire marshal said.
“Knowing that there was a heavy smell of natural gas around us, within about 15 to 30 seconds of exiting the building there was another explosion and fire,” he said.
It was not immediately clear how many patients and staff were in the nursing home, which is certified for up to 174 beds, at the time of the explosion.
A nurse working at the facility told local TV news that there were normally more than 50 patients aged 50 to 95 in the building at any given time.
“We’re still in rescue mode until we know the building is cleared,” Dippolito said.
Pennsylvania governor praises ‘valor’ of first responders
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said the facility was acquired by new owners this month. He also said state health inspectors had visited the facility on Dec. 10 and met with staff to draw up a plan to update standards at the nursing home.
“Tonight, we saw real heroism in Bucks County,” Shapiro said in a post on X, praising the emergency response.
Shapiro praised the firefighters “who ran toward danger to put out this fire and rescue people from the burning building,” as well as the police officers who “literally carried them on their backs to safety.”
The governor also highlighted the solidarity shown by nearby residents who “came out of their homes, away from their families” to help the victims.
Edited by: Darko Janjevic