BRISTOL, Pa. (AP) — On Tuesday, a gas explosion occurred at a nursing home near Philadelphia, trapping residents inside, according to local authorities.

Ruth Miller, a representative from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, confirmed, “We understand that there are people trapped inside.”

The incident was reported by Bucks County officials shortly before 3 p.m. at the Silver Lake nursing home, situated in Bristol Township, approximately 20 miles northeast of Philadelphia.

State Representative Tina Davis, who serves the district where the facility is located, approached the scene by car but chose not to obstruct emergency efforts.

“I witnessed smoke rising and saw a continuous stream of fire trucks and ambulances arriving from across the city,” Davis recounted.

She said there was talk of using a nearby school as a temporary evacuation area.

Jim Morgan, president of the Bristol Township School Board, said district buses will be taking people from the emergency scene at the nursing home to a reunification center at Truman High School. He said officials were working on setting up beds and providing water and other needs to residents. As of 4 p.m. no one had showed up at the school, Morgan said.

“It’s just so sad — 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,” Davis said.