A Pennsylvania nursing home exploded like a bomb Tuesday afternoon, killing at least two people, trapping others inside, and turning what should have been a peaceful holiday week into a horrific scene of fire, chaos, and heartbreak.
The blast ripped through the Bristol Health & Rehab Center, just 20 miles outside Philadelphia, collapsing part of the building and sending flames and thick black smoke billowing into the winter sky. Screams echoed as residents — many elderly and unable to walk — were pulled from windows by firefighters desperate to save lives.
“It was like the whole world shook,” said neighbor Willie Tye, who lives a block away. “I thought an airplane fell on my house. Then I saw fire everywhere.”
Governor Josh Shapiro confirmed at least two people were killed and several others were hospitalized after what witnesses described as a “thunderous” explosion that could be heard for miles. Five people remain unaccounted for, though officials warn that number could change as crews continue digging through rubble and flames late into the night.
“This is a devastating tragedy,” Shapiro said. “There will be families sitting down for Christmas with an empty chair at their table.”
Fire Chief Kevin Dippolito described the scene as “total chaos,” with firefighters smashing through doors, climbing through smoke, and pulling people from stairwells and elevator shafts. One officer “literally threw two people over his shoulders,” Dippolito said. “It was nothing short of extraordinary.”
Authorities say the explosion happened just as utility crews were investigating a suspected gas leak. Local gas company PECO confirmed its workers were on site when the facility suddenly erupted. Crews immediately cut power and gas to the area, but the damage was already catastrophic.
Adding to the horror, staff members had reportedly smelled gas days earlier but didn’t think it was serious. “There was no heat in the room, so we didn’t take it to be anything,” said nursing assistant Musuline Watson.
The 174-bed facility, previously called Silver Lake Healthcare Center, had a long list of safety violations — including missing smoke barriers, blocked stairwells, and unmaintained fire extinguishers — according to state inspection records. Medicare rated it “much below average.”
As the sun set over Bucks County, the scene looked like a disaster zone — fire trucks lining the street, search dogs sniffing through debris, and families weeping outside the gates.
“It’s right before Christmas,” one witness said. “And now people are dead. Some of them never made it out.”
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