BRISTOL, Pa. — Search teams, including construction crews and drones, combed through the debris of a Pennsylvania nursing home on Wednesday. This followed a devastating explosion that claimed at least two lives, partially destroyed the building, and left several residents missing.

On Tuesday, emergency personnel from across the region sprang into action, evacuating residents and sifting through rubble amidst flames, smoke, and the strong scent of gas. The situation was further complicated by a secondary explosion, Governor Josh Shapiro reported during a press conference that evening.

The explosion occurred at the 174-bed nursing facility in Bristol Township, roughly 20 miles northeast of Philadelphia. It happened shortly after a utility crew responded to complaints of a gas odor at the site, authorities confirmed. Investigators are currently assessing whether a gas leak was responsible for the explosion, though officials have stressed that conclusions are still preliminary.

During the Tuesday press briefing, Fire Chief Kevin Dippolito revealed that five individuals were still unaccounted for. He noted, however, that some might have left the scene with relatives.

Authorities received the first alert of an explosion at the Bristol Health & Rehab Center around 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday. Dippolito recounted the frantic rescue efforts, describing how firefighters navigated stairwells and elevator shafts to free trapped individuals, while others were pulled to safety through windows and doors. Two people were successfully rescued from a collapsed section of the building.

Firefighters handed patients to police officers waiting outside, including one officer “who literally threw two people over his shoulders,” Dippolito said. Rescuers used search dogs, heavy equipment and sonar to locate potential victims.

Willie Tye, who lives about a block away, said he was watching a basketball game when he heard a loud boom.

“I thought an airplane or something came and fell on my house,” he said. When he went outside, he saw “fire everywhere” and people fleeing the building.

The local gas utility, PECO, said its crews were responding to reports of a gas odor when the explosion occurred. The company said it shut off natural gas and electric service to the facility to protect first responders and nearby residents.

“It is not known at this time if PECO’s equipment, or natural gas, was involved in this incident,” the utility said in a statement.

Investigators from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission went to the scene. A utility commission spokesperson said a determination that a gas leak caused the explosion cannot be confirmed until investigators examine the site.

Musuline Watson, who said she was a certified nursing assistant at the facility, told WPVI-TV that staff smelled gas over the weekend but did not initially suspect a serious problem because there was no heat in that room.

The nursing home recently became affiliated with Saber Healthcare Group and was previously known as Silver Lake Healthcare Center.

Saber called the explosion “devastating” in a statement and said facility personnel promptly reported the gas odor to PECO before the blast. The company said it was cooperating with authorities to ensure the safety of residents, staff and the surrounding community.

State records show the facility was cited for multiple violations during its most recent inspection in October by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, including failing to provide accurate floor plans, properly maintain stairways and fire extinguishers on one level. Inspectors also cited the facility for lacking required smoke barrier partitions designed to contain smoke across floors.

According to Medicare.gov, the facility underwent a standard fire safety inspection in September 2024 and received no citations. Medicare’s overall rating of the facility is listed as “much below average,” with poor ratings for health inspections in particular.

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Levy and Scolforo reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Associated Press reporters Tassanee Vejpongsa in Bristol, Pennsylvania; Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire; Michael Casey in Boston; and Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City contributed.