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| Pennsylvania by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Pix4free |
The blast occurred shortly after 2 p.m. at the Bristol Health & Rehab Center, also known as the Silver Lake Nursing Home, in Bucks County, roughly 20 miles northeast of Philadelphia. First responders described a chaotic scene marked by fire, debris, and partially collapsed sections of the building as evacuations were underway.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said early indications pointed to a gas-related incident, though investigators have not yet confirmed the cause. Utility workers responding to reports of a strong gas odor were at the site when the explosion happened, officials said.
One of the victims was identified by local officials as a 52-year-old nursing assistant. The second fatality was a female resident; her name was not released. Of those injured, 19 remained hospitalized as of Wednesday, including at least one person listed in critical condition. Authorities said everyone who was inside the facility at the time has now been accounted for.
The force of the blast caused part of the first floor to collapse into the basement, sending flames and debris outward. Firefighters said residents were pulled from stairwells, elevator areas, windows, and doorways amid heavy smoke and a lingering gas smell.
Crews continued clearing rubble overnight and into Wednesday, using heavy equipment as part of the investigation. Officials said federal agencies would assist in determining what caused the explosion.
The 174-bed facility housed about 120 residents at the time of the incident. Those displaced were transferred to nearby nursing homes while authorities assessed the damage.
Local officials offered condolences to the victims’ families and credited first responders with preventing additional casualties during the rescue and evacuation efforts.
