Rescuers rushed into flames to save nursing home residents after deadly explosion

In a heroic rescue effort that showcased extraordinary bravery, emergency responders rushed into a Pennsylvania nursing home engulfed in flames Tuesday to evacuate dozens of elderly residents after a powerful explosion tore through the facility, killing two people and injuring 20 others.

The blast at the Bristol Township nursing home claimed the lives of a 52-year-old employee, Muthoni Nduthu, and an unidentified female resident. Officials confirmed Wednesday that all residents had been accounted for after an extensive search through the damaged structure that lasted hours.

“They were running into a building that I could — from 50 feet away — could still smell gas, and walls that looked like they were going to fall down,” Police Chief Charles Winik told reporters, describing the scene as one where he had “never seen such heroism.”

The explosion was so powerful it shook homes blocks away in this community located about 20 miles northeast of Philadelphia. It destroyed an entire wing of the facility that housed the kitchen and cafeteria, leaving behind a scene of devastation with a collapsed roof, missing walls, and blown-out windows.

First responders faced treacherous conditions during the rescue operation. While evacuating the 120 residents, they battled flames, falling debris, and the threat of additional explosions—which materialized when a second blast occurred during rescue efforts. The situation was particularly challenging as many residents were immobile, wheelchair-bound, or confined to beds.

Julia Szewczyk, a 25-year-old speech therapist, was conducting a group therapy session when she felt the building shake. She described the experience as “terrifying and devastating” as she and other staff members rushed to move residents to safety across the street. Szewczyk even returned to the burning building multiple times to retrieve blankets for displaced residents.

“And then the next thing was, to go inside and grab more people,” she recounted. She and other staff members managed to wheel out a bed-bound resident—bed and all—into the cold winter air.

The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, though authorities noted that a utility crew had been responding to reports of a gas odor at the time of the blast. PECO, the local gas utility, confirmed its crew had shut off natural gas and electric service to the facility but could not yet determine if utility equipment or gas was involved in the explosion.

There were indications of possible gas issues preceding the incident. Musuline Watson, who identified herself as a certified nursing assistant at the facility, told local media that staff had detected gas odors over the weekend. Szewczyk also reported that colleagues had mentioned smelling gas earlier on Tuesday.

The nursing home, which recently affiliated with Ohio-based Saber Healthcare Group, stated that facility personnel had promptly reported the gas odor to the local utility before the explosion occurred. Saber Healthcare called the incident “devastating” in a statement.

Among the 20 people hospitalized, one remains in critical condition. The other residents have been transferred to nearby nursing homes.

Nduthu, a Kenyan immigrant who worked at the facility, was remembered by her sister Rose Muema as “a great mother to her sons, a great wife, a devout Catholic and very involved in the community.” After immigrating to the United States, Nduthu attended nursing school and was known as a hard worker who loved to cook.

“She was an immigrant who came to make a difference in this country, and she did that,” Muema said of her sister.

Federal agencies are set to assist in the investigation once the collapsed structure is stabilized enough to allow for a thorough examination. For now, the community continues to grapple with the shock of the sudden tragedy that has altered so many lives in this Philadelphia suburb.

Residents in the area described the force of the explosion. Willie Tye, who lives about a block away, was watching basketball when he heard the blast. “I thought an airplane or something came and fell on my house,” he said, illustrating the intensity of an explosion that has forever changed this Pennsylvania community.