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2 dead and others missing after fire and explosion at a Pennsylvania nursing home

24 December 2025 05:00 (UTC +04:00)

Two people are dead and others are missing after a fire and explosion tore into a nursing home on the outskirts of Philadelphia, spurring local responders, bystanders and staff to rush the elderly population to safety, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said, APA reports citing CNN.

Five people may be missing, Fire Chief Kevin Dippolito said, but officials emphasized the number is preliminary. The number injured is also not immediately clear as patients were taken to multiple hospitals, he said.

The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, but officials’ preliminary belief is that it was a gas leak, Shapiro said.

Crews from PECO, the local utility company, responded to reports of a gas odor in the facility shortly after 2 p.m., the company told the Associated Press in a statement.

“While crews were on site, an explosion occurred at the facility. PECO crews shut off natural gas and electric service to the facility to ensure the safety of first responders and local residents,” the company said in the statement.

First responders worked quickly to remove everyone they could find as they still smelled a heavy gas odor, Dippolito said. About 15 to 30 seconds after firefighters left building, there was another explosion and subsequent fire, he said, showing just how dangerous conditions were during the early rescue efforts.

In addition to the fire, the building suffered major damage as the first floor partially collapsed into the basement, Dippolito said.