1 nursing home resident, 1 employee killed in fire, explosion; cause under investigation

An explosion and fire at a Pennsylvania nursing home killed two women, a resident and an employee, and injured 20 other people, authorities said.

The employee was identified as Muthoni Nduthu, a 52-year-old nurse, according to Philadelphia ABC Station WPVI.

The “catastrophic” incident, possibly caused by a gas leak, unfolded Tuesday afternoon at the Silver Lake nursing home in Bristol, about 25 miles northeast of Philadelphia.

Of the 20 people injured, 19 remain hospitalized Wednesday, including one in critical condition, Bristol Township Police Chief CJ Winik said Wednesday.

Bristol Township Fire Chief Kevin Dippolito said parts of the first floor collapsed into the basement, trapping people inside.

All employees and 120 residents of the facility have been accounted for, the police chief said.

Winick praised the “heroism” of the first responders, who he said ran into the building, despite the strong smell of gas, and evacuated residents, including some who could not walk or talk.

“This could have been a much more serious catastrophe,” he said at a news conference Wednesday. “The actions of everyone involved help preserve life.”

The cause of the incident remains under investigation, Dippolito said Wednesday. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Tuesday that the preliminary belief was that a gas leak was the cause, and Dippolito said the source of the leak was in the basement of the facility.