Explosion at Pennsylvania nursing home kills at least two, multiple residents unaccounted for

A powerful explosion ripped through a nursing home outside Philadelphia on Tuesday afternoon, killing at least two people and triggering a complex rescue operation as firefighters searched for residents feared trapped inside. Authorities said the blast, believed to be linked to a gas leak, caused part of the building to collapse and led to a second explosion during emergency evacuations.

Emergency crews remained on site hours after the explosion at the Bristol Health & Rehab Center in Bristol Township, Pennsylvania, working through unstable debris with search dogs, sonar equipment and heavy machinery. Fire officials said rescuers were proceeding cautiously due to lingering gas odors and structural risks.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro told reporters Tuesday evening that at least two people had been confirmed dead. He said first responders entered the damaged building despite flames, smoke and the threat of additional explosions to evacuate residents and staff.

“We know lives have been lost,” Shapiro said, adding that the rescue effort continued amid hazardous conditions. He urged Pennsylvanians to keep the victims and their families in their thoughts as the Christmas holiday approached.

Rescue operation amid unstable conditions

Fire Chief Kevin Dippolito said late Tuesday that five people were still unaccounted for, though he cautioned that some residents may have left the scene with relatives during the initial chaos. He described a rescue marked by collapsing structures, blocked exits and intense heat.

Firefighters found residents trapped in stairwells and elevator shafts, pulling people through windows and doors as flames spread. Two individuals were rescued from a collapsed section of the building, Dippolito said. A second explosion occurred while crews were inside conducting rescues, forcing temporary withdrawals before operations resumed.

Patients were handed off to police officers and paramedics outside the facility, he said, describing acts of physical endurance by responders carrying residents to safety.

Bucks County emergency management officials said the initial call reporting an explosion came in at about 2:17 p.m. A section of the multi-story building was reported to have collapsed shortly afterward.

Gas leak under investigation

The explosion occurred while a utility crew was at the facility responding to reports of a gas odor. Governor Shapiro said it was too early to confirm the cause, describing a gas leak as a preliminary finding pending further investigation.

Local utility PECO said its crews were on site when the explosion happened. In a statement, the company said it shut off natural gas and electricity to the facility immediately after the blast to protect first responders and nearby residents.

Investigators from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission were dispatched to the scene. A spokesperson said the cause of the explosion would not be confirmed until the site could be fully examined once conditions were safe.

A certified nursing assistant who identified herself as Musuline Watson told local television station WPVI that she and colleagues had smelled gas at the facility over the weekend. She said staff did not initially interpret it as a serious hazard because there was no heat in the rooms at the time.

Witnesses describe blast and aftermath

Residents living near the nursing home described a violent explosion that shook nearby buildings. Willie Tye, who lives about a block away, said he was watching a basketball game when he heard what he described as a “loud kaboom.”

“I thought an airplane fell on my house,” Tye said. When he stepped outside, he saw flames and people fleeing the building. “You just keep praying for them,” he said.

A thick plume of black smoke rose above the facility as fire trucks, ambulances and police units from across the region converged on the scene. Earth-moving equipment was brought in as daylight faded to assist with debris removal.

Facility background and prior inspections

The Bristol Health & Rehab Center is a 174-bed nursing home located about 20 miles northeast of Philadelphia. The facility was recently affiliated with Saber Healthcare Group and was previously known as Silver Lake Healthcare Center.

In a statement, Saber described the explosion as “devastating” and said staff had reported the gas odor to PECO before the blast. The company said it was cooperating with authorities and focusing on the safety of residents, employees and the surrounding community.

State inspection records show the facility was cited for multiple deficiencies during an October inspection by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Inspectors reported failures to maintain accurate floor plans, improper storage in stairwells and lapses in maintaining portable fire extinguishers on one level.

The report also cited the absence of required smoke barrier partitions designed to contain smoke between floors, as well as improper storage of oxygen cylinders on two of the building’s three levels.

According to Medicare.gov, the facility passed a standard fire safety inspection in September 2024 without citations. However, its overall Medicare rating is listed as “much below average,” driven largely by poor health inspection scores.

Ongoing search and response

As night fell, responders continued searching the wreckage, balancing urgency with safety concerns. Officials said updates would be provided as more information became available, including confirmation of missing persons and the cause of the explosion.

Governor Shapiro acknowledged the emotional toll of the incident, particularly during the holiday season, and praised the efforts of emergency personnel who remained at the site despite ongoing danger.

The investigation remains active, and authorities said it could take days before a full accounting of casualties and contributing factors is completed.