US nursing home explosion kills 2

At least two people have been killed in a massive explosion at a nursing home in the eastern US state of Pennsylvania. The state’s governor said several others were still missing, TRT World reported. Authorities in Bucks County, north of Philadelphia, said the explosion may have been caused by a gas leak at the Silver Lake nursing home. Part of the building collapsed and many residents were trapped inside when the fire broke out.
Governor Josh Shapiro told a news conference that “at this point, at least two people are confirmed dead. There are still several missing.” He praised first responders for their quick rescue efforts. He said firefighters were “literally going up the stairs and handing residents over to the police.” “And at times the police were taking two people to safety.”
Bristol Township Fire Chief Kevin Dippolito said they smelled a “strong smell of gas” when they arrived at the scene. “A large portion of the building collapsed during the explosion, with part of the first floor collapsing into the basement, trapping people inside,” he said. Residents were rescued through windows, doors, stairs and elevator shafts, he said. Dippolito said five people were still missing, but that number is preliminary. “We will continue to search until we are sure the building is completely empty,” he said. Governor Shapiro said the nursing home changed ownership this month. He said state health inspectors visited the facility on Dec. 10, met with staff and developed a plan to improve operations.