A powerful explosion, suspected to be caused by a gas leak, ripped through a nursing home in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, trapping residents inside and prompting a massive emergency response. The blast at the Silver Lake Nursing Home in Bristol Township, located roughly 30 minutes northeast of Philadelphia, occurred around 2 pm local time.
Emergency Response and Rescue Operations
Authorities immediately declared the situation a "mass casualty incident" and urged the public to avoid the area to allow first responders to work. Ruth Miller, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, confirmed to The Associated Press that people were trapped inside the facility. Emergency crews, including police, firefighters, and paramedics, rushed to the scene to evacuate residents and search for anyone missing.
Lieutenant Sean Cosgrove of the Bristol Township police provided details on the evacuation efforts, noting that residents were helped to safety by a combination of emergency personnel, nursing home staff, and even bystanders. "I do not know if everyone is accounted for or not yet," Cosgrove told Levittown Now. "I’m not aware of any critical injuries but there definitely were injuries."
Scene of Devastation and Facility's Safety Record
Social media videos and reports painted a chaotic picture of the aftermath. The footage showed numerous emergency vehicles with flashing lights surrounding the building, with flames and thick black smoke billowing from the structure. The force of the explosion blew out windows and caused a section of the roof to collapse.
The nursing home's safety record has come under scrutiny following the disaster. According to data on Medicare.gov, the Silver Lake Nursing Home holds a one-star overall rating, with its health inspections classified as "much below average." The facility's last recorded fire safety inspection was conducted in September 2024.
Official Briefings and Ongoing Investigation
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro stated on social media platform X that he had been briefed on the incident. "My Administration is in contact with local officials and first responders on the ground," the Governor wrote. The cause of the explosion is currently under investigation. Authorities have not yet released an official count of the number of people injured or killed in the blast, as rescue and assessment operations continue.
