At least two dead in explosion at Pennsylvania nursing home

At least two people died and several others were injured after an explosion and fire at a Pennsylvania nursing home caused the building to partially collapse.

Emergency crews were called to Silver Lake Nursing Home in Bristol around 2:00 p.m. local time (19:00 GMT) on Tuesday after receiving reports of the smell of gas. When crews arrived, the building exploded, causing a massive fire, authorities said.

Five people are still missing, but officials said they do not know if those people were in the building.

Responders pulled residents from windows, stairwells and elevators and carried them to safety, Fire Chief Kevin Dippolito told reporters.

“There was a police officer who literally threw two people on his shoulders and ran” with them toward medical personnel, he said.

Several people were trapped in the basement of the collapsed building but were rescued, Dippolito said.

“We’re still in rescue mode. We haven’t gone into recovery mode,” he said.

Emergency crews were still working to rescue people who might be trapped in the building, the fire chief said.

Gov. Josh Shapiro said the exact number of injuries was not yet known and the cause of the explosion was still under investigation.

Images and videos posted on social media by local media show a partially collapsed building with huge flames escaping.

Shapiro praised the support of area authorities who rushed to offer help, and said residents living near the nursing home were “outstanding.”

“Residents came out of their homes and offered to help us,” he said. “It’s the Pennsylvania way: neighbors helping neighbors in times of need.”