Nursing home explosion in Bristol, Pennsylvania, killed 1 staff member, 1 resident, officials say
The two people killed in the explosions at a Bucks County, Pennsylvania, nursing home on Tuesday were a staff member and a resident, officials said.
One of the victims was Muthoni Nduthu, 52, the Bucks County Coroner's Office said. The name of the other victim has not been released.
Bristol Township Police provided more updates Wednesday about the fatal explosions at the Bristol Health and Rehab Center on Tower Road, which was previously known as the Silver Lake Nursing Home. Officials said a gas leak led to two explosions and a fire and that there was a smell of gas at the scene.
State records show Nduthu was a licensed practical nurse.
As of Wednesday morning, 19 people are still hospitalized, one of whom is in critical condition, Bristol Township Police Chief Charles Winik, Jr. said in a news conference. He could not provide more information on the nature of their injuries or say how many are residents or staff members.
The violent explosions blew out windows and caused part of the building to collapse. That collapsed section contained the kitchen and cafeteria, with some utility areas and offices underneath, according to officials.
Crews with heavy construction equipment are on the scene combing through the wreckage. Fire Chief Kevin Dippolito said investigators hoped to gain access to the collapsed portion of the building Wednesday afternoon. Once in place, investigators can work to determine the cause of the explosions, he added.
"Until we excavate that area and remove the walls and roofs that collapsed we won't have any idea what may have occurred in there," Dippolito said.
The investigation could take weeks or months, officials said. PECO said in a statement that the National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation.
The fire chief said he could not recall any prior calls to the property recently for gas-related issues.
Winik said the law enforcement response to the explosion was the largest he has seen in 20 years.
"I've never seen such heroism," he said.
Officials including Gov. Josh Shapiro and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick have also commended law enforcement, firefighters and staff from the nearby Lower Bucks Hospital for their help rescuing residents.
Bristol Health and Rehab residents have been placed in other nursing homes and facilities owned by Saber Healthcare Group.
Saber acquired the facility 24 days ago, the company said in a statement.
"We could not be prouder of those men and women who, in the face of tragedy, stepped up to support one another," the statement said in part. "We have worked to improve and fix prior issues, and we will continue that work in the wake of this event. We thank those who have offered their thoughts and prayers for our staff and residents, and we will continue to work to ensure the safety of the community in the days and weeks to come."
Neighbors rush to help
Newly released video shows the immediate aftermath of the blast at the facility.
"It felt like an earthquake," said Keenan Lovelace, who lives nearby. "Heard like a loud boom bang."
Residents who felt the blast raced to the scene to help.
John Hibbs, who lives next door to the nursing home, said he ran outside after the explosion, telling his wife to call 911 while he tried to assist victims.
"The windows were all blown out, insulation was falling from the sky," Hibbs said.
Hibbs said he helped pull five people from the rubble, including four employees, some of whom had serious injuries.
"One lady's face swelled pretty bad. She had a gash on her head," he said. "The one lady was complaining she thought her ankle was broken. The other one's knee, she thought was twisted. I just started handing people off to other people so I could go back and get the next one."
As neighbors helped evacuate survivors, Hibbs said his wife distributed blankets and towels to keep people warm.
"To me, it's just the right thing to do," he said. "I would want somebody to help my family if, God forbid, anything like that happened."