Tragedy Strikes Nursing Home
On Tuesday afternoon, a suspected gas explosion caused partial collapse at a nursing facility in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, leading to the deaths of two women.
Authorities confirmed during a Wednesday briefing that the victims included one resident and one staff member. The coroner identified the employee as 52-year-old nurse Muthoni Nduthu, a Bristol resident and mother of three adult children. The resident's identity remains undisclosed.
Rescue and Response
Emergency crews responded to reports of a gas odor hours before the 2:15 p.m. explosion at the Bristol Health and Rehab Center on Tower Road. The blast occurred in the kitchen/cafeteria area while utility workers were present.
Fire Chief Kevin Dippolito described chaotic rescue operations where firefighters extracted people from stairwells, elevator shafts, and collapsed sections. "It was nothing short of extraordinary," he said, noting one officer carried two people over his shoulders. A second explosion occurred during rescue efforts.
Twenty individuals were transported to hospitals with injuries, 19 remaining hospitalized by Wednesday morning, including one in critical condition. All 120 residents and staff present have been accounted for.
Community Impact
Nduthu's best friend Rose Muema, who considered herself like a sister, expressed shock alongside the nurse's husband and sons. "She's a very hardworking nurse, sometimes even pulls a double, so we knew she was at work," Muema said, adding that the Kenyan community was devastated.
Muema revealed heartbreaking details: "She had seasoned chicken for us to celebrate Christmas with her. So, the chicken is still in the fridge. We don't know what to do, just look at it."
Colleague Riddhi Patel, who was off-duty during the explosion, described Nduthu as "always laughing at work, no matter how hard the shift was."
Investigation and History
The National Transportation Safety Board and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have joined the investigation. PECO reported uncertainty about whether their equipment or natural gas was involved.
The 174-bed facility was recently purchased by Saber Healthcare Group, which called the explosion "devastating" and confirmed staff had reported the gas smell to PECO beforehand. Residents are being relocated to other company facilities.
October inspection records from the previous ownership showed non-compliance with several state regulations, including inadequate floor plans, stairway maintenance, and fire safety measures. Medicare rates the facility "much below average" for health inspections, though a September 2024 fire inspection yielded no citations.
Governor Josh Shapiro asked Pennsylvanians to pray "for this community, for those who are still missing, for those who are injured, and for those families who are about to celebrate Christmas with an empty chair at their table."
