At least two people were killed and several others were injured after an explosion and fire at a nursing home in Pennsylvania caused a partial collapse of the building.
Emergency crews were called to Silver Lake care home in Bristol at approximately 2pm local time (1900 GMT) on Tuesday after receiving reports of a gas smell. When crews arrived, the building exploded, causing a massive fire, authorities said.
Five people are still missing, but officials said they are unsure if those people are still in the building.
Rescuers pulled residents from windows, stairwells and elevators and brought them to safety, Fire Chief Kevin Dippolito told reporters.
“There was one police officer who literally threw two people over his shoulders and ran” with them to medical personnel, he said.
Several people were trapped in the basement of the collapsed building but were rescued, Dippolito said.
“We are still in rescue mode. We have not gone into recovery mode,” he said.
Emergency crews are still working to rescue people who may 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 under investigation.
Images and videos posted on social media by local media showed a partially destroyed building with huge flames belching from it.
Shapiro praised the support from area officials who rushed to offer help and said residents living near the nursing home have been “outstanding.”
“Residents came out of their houses and offered us help,” he said. “This is the Pennsylvania way: neighbors helping neighbors in their time of need.”
