A mass casualty situation has been declared after an explosion ripped through a Pennsylvania nursing home leaving multiple people trapped.
The blast tore through Silver Lake Healthcare Center in Bristol Township, Pennsylvania at around 2.17pm.
First responders and emergency management officials had described the scene as a gas explosion.
However, that will not be confirmed until the agency can examine the scene up close, Nils Hagen-Frederiksen, the press secretary at the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, told the Associated Press.
There is no word on how many people have been injured.
The explosion was labeled a mass casualty incident by Upper Makefield Township, according to WPVI.
Multiple people were reported as trapped, per the outlet.
Law enforcement has asked the public to avoid the area while responders attend to the scene, where a huge blaze had broken out in the aftermath.
First responders the scene of the an explosion at a nursing home in Bristol Township on Tuesday
The explosion was labeled a mass casualty incident by Upper Makefield Township. Injuries are still unknown
‘We understand that there are people trapped inside,’ Ruth Miller, a Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency spokesperson, told CBS Philadelphia.
The nursing home has 174 beds, according to its website. It is located about 25 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said he had been briefed on the explosion.
‘My Administration is in contact with local officials and first responders on the ground,’ he wrote on X.
Shapiro said Pennsylvania State Police and the Emergency Management Agency had offered ‘their full support and any resources needed’ in wake of the event.
He added: ‘The scene is still active, and folks nearby should follow the direction of local authorities. Please join Lori and me in praying for the Bristol community.’
State Rep. Tina Davis described the scene after the explosion.
Silver Lake Healthcare Center is located about 25 miles north, or one hour, of Philadelphia. It had 174 beds, per its website
Pennsylvania Rep. Tina Davis described the scene after the explosion as seeing ‘car after car after car’ with fire trucks and ambulances ‘from all over the city’
‘I saw smoke and I saw car after car after car was a fire truck or ambulance from all over the city, from all over,’ she told the AP.
District buses will be transporting people from the nursing home’s emergency scene to a reunification center at nearby Truman High School.
Officials were still working on setting up beds and providing water, as well as other essentials to those in need.
‘It’s just so sad,’ Davis told the outlet. ‘It’s that hopeful time of year.’
‘This is just something that is sad for everybody and the families and the workers that are there. I hope there’s positive results from this. We don’t know at this point.’
Fire engines and trucks were pictured in the vicinity of the explosion, as responders attempted to clear out debris.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Bucks County police for comment.
