At least two people lost their lives on Tuesday in an explosion that destroyed part of a nursing home near the city of Philadelphia in the US state of Pennsylvania. Governor Josh Shapiro announced, adding that several other people are missing. TASR informs about it according to the report of the AP agency.
A gas leak may have been the cause of the explosion at a senior living facility in Bucks County, north of Philadelphia, authorities said. Firefighters could smell it when they arrived at the scene. During the explosion, part of the first floor collapsed into the basement, where people were trapped under the debris.
“There are currently at least two known victims. We know several people are still missing,” Shapiro said at a press conference. According to the firemen’s preliminary estimate, about five people remain missing. The number of injured was not immediately known.
The nursing home changed hands this month, according to Pennsylvania’s governor. Inspectors visited the facility two weeks ago and met with staff to develop a plan to adjust standards.
