BRISTOL, Pa. — Emergency crews and drones searched through the wreckage of a nursing home in Bristol Township on Wednesday, after a catastrophic explosion the previous day claimed at least two lives and left multiple residents unaccounted for.
First responders evacuated individuals and combed through debris amidst flames and lingering gas odors on Tuesday afternoon, following the explosion that occurred shortly after utility workers arrived at the facility, responding to reports of a gas smell, according to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
The blast at the nursing home, which housed 174 beds, raised serious concerns about a potential gas leak, prompting investigators to delve deeply into what could have triggered the explosion.
Bristol Township's Fire Chief, Kevin Dippolito, reported during a news conference that while five individuals remained unaccounted for, some may have left the site with family members as evacuations occurred.
Rescue operations were described as chaotic, with firefighters rescuing individuals trapped in stairwells and assisting residents out of windows. Volunteers employed search dogs and heavy equipment to aid in locating anyone still inside the building.
Witness accounts suggest the force of the explosion was so severe that it felt like an aircraft crashing. Residents expressed disbelief at the destruction, with one man mentioning the sight of flames and people fleeing the site.
Local gas utility, PECO, stated that they were responding to the gas odor reports when the explosion struck. They have temporarily cut off gas services to the area to protect residents and responders.
MSabers Healthcare Group, which operates the facility now known as Bristol Health & Rehab Center, labeled the incident as devastating and stated that the necessary precautionary measures were in place following gas odor complaints from staff over the weekend.
The nursing home's past inspections reflected multiple violations, raising questions about safety protocols in place before the explosion. Investigators from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission are on-site to assess whether a gas leak indeed caused the disaster.
The searching continues as authorities strive to piece together the events leading to this tragic incident.
