Philadelphia nursing home rocked by explosion | World | News
Authorities said that in the explosion at the nursing home, part of the building collapsed and people were injured and trapped inside. The incident occurred on December 23 at Silver Lake Health Center in Bristol Township, just 40 kilometers northeast of Philadelphia, USA.
Emergency services teams from all over the region arrived at the scene with excavation equipment. In the chilling shots taken at the scene, a large black smoke was seen rising from the nursing home. While the cause of the explosion is not yet clear, it is not yet known whether there are any dead people. Authorities confirmed people were injured.
Police Lt. Sean Cosgrove said there were injuries but was not aware of any critical injuries. He said: “A lot of details are still unknown at this point.”
He added that residents were evacuated by emergency services, bystanders and staff.
Upper Makefield Township police called the explosion a “mass fatality incident” on social media, urging people to avoid the area in Bristol.
Bucks County emergency management officials said they received a report of an explosion at 2:17 p.m. and that part of the building had collapsed.
Ruth Miller, a spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, said her agency was notified that people were trapped inside.
State Rep. Tina Davis, who drove up to the area, described the scene: “I saw smoke and I saw car after car, fire department or ambulance from all over the city.”
Nils Hagen-Frederiksen, press secretary for the Pennsylvania Public Service Commission, said first responders and emergency management officials described the incident as a gas explosion, but that would not be confirmed until his agency closely examined the scene, and explained that investigators from the safety division were on the scene.
Nursing home residents will be taken to the reunification center at Truman High School following mandatory evacuation.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro also spoke about the incident, writing to
Earlier tonight he said the scene was “still active” and urged locals to “follow the instructions of local authorities”.
