At least 2 dead, about 20 injured in nursing home explosion in Bristol, Pennsylvania, officials say

At least two people were killed and about 20 people injured in an explosion Tuesday afternoon at a nursing home in Bristol, Pennsylvania, officials said.

At a press conference, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said two people had died.

Bristol Township police later raised the death toll to three. However, Police Chief Charles Winik told CBS News Philadelphia late Tuesday that one of the patients was resuscitated at a hospital and survived.

The injured were transported to five area hospitals. Everyone has been found, Winik told reporters.

A gas leak is believed to have led to two explosions and a fire, Bristol Township Fire Chief Kevin Dippolito said.

According to a PECO spokesperson, crews responded to reports of the smell of gas at the nursing home shortly after 2 p.m. Eastern Time.

“While crews were on scene, an explosion occurred at the facility. PECO crews shut off natural gas and electricity to the facility to ensure the safety of first responders and local residents,” the release said.

“It is unknown at this time whether PECO equipment, or natural gas, was involved in this incident,” PECO said later Tuesday evening.

Part of the building collapsed. Authorities say a reunification site has been set up at Truman High School in Levittown.

Emergency crews are still working to rescue people who may be trapped in the building, Bristol Fire Chief Kevin Dippolito said. They use sonar and dogs to aid in searches, Dippolito said.

Two people were rescued from the collapsed part of the building, he said.

Shapiro praised the work of firefighters and other first responders from across the region who rushed to the scene.

“They were literally climbing ladders, handing over the individuals in this nursing home to the police, who were sometimes carrying two people on their backs to get them to safety,” Shapiro said.

New owners took over the facility earlier this month, Shapiro said. The state Department of Health visited the home Dec. 10 and a plan to modernize the facility was put in place, he added.

Bristol is located about 20 miles northeast of Philadelphia.

“To the Bristol community: I support you and I will be with you soon,” Shapiro said earlier in a social media post.