A devastating explosion at a Pennsylvania nursing home has claimed two lives, including that of a hard-working nurse who was about to embark on a Christmas holiday with her family. The blast at the Bristol Health and Rehab Center in Bristol, just outside Philadelphia, also left at least 20 people injured and displaced 120 residents.
A Life of Service Cut Short
The Bucks County Coroner's Office identified one of the victims as Muthoni Nduthu, 52, a licensed practical nurse who was working her shift when the explosion occurred just after 2 pm on Tuesday. The second fatality was a resident of the home, whose name has not yet been released.
Nduthu's family told the New York Times she was a dedicated mother and an immigrant from Kenya who had moved to the United States in 2004. She had been working at the Bristol centre for about a year. Her son, Clinton Ndegwa, described her as a provider who took great pride in serving others. "She worked to try to provide for her family. She liked serving people. She took pride in that," he said.
Tragically, Nduthu was working her final shift before planning to travel to North Carolina to spend Christmas with her family, where she intended to cook a traditional Kenyan feast. Her son revealed he had bought her a Coach bag as a Christmas gift that he now will never be able to give her.
Emergency Response and Ongoing Investigation
Firefighters rushed to the scene following the initial blast to rescue frightened residents and employees from the collapsing building. Bristol Township Police Chief CJ Winik praised the "heroism" of first responders who entered the structure despite a strong odour of gas. "They were still going in the building to recover people who couldn't walk. They were in wheelchairs. Some people couldn't talk," Winik stated, adding that the situation could have been "a much more serious catastrophe."
As of Wednesday morning, 19 victims remained hospitalised, with one in critical condition. Chief Winik confirmed all employees and residents were now accounted for.
Governor Josh Shapiro called the explosion a "very, very tragic moment for this community" and indicated that a preliminary investigation pointed to a gas leak. Authorities confirmed there had been reports of a gas smell at the facility just before the explosion.
Home's Safety Record and Aftermath
The nursing home, previously known as Silver Lake Healthcare Center, held a one-star rating out of five on the government's Medicare website. While its most recent inspection in September found no deficiencies in fire safety or emergency preparedness, the centre was fined twice last year for infractions including administering wrong medication to patients.
The facility's affiliate, Saber Healthcare Group, issued a statement noting staff had reported a gas smell prior to the blast but that the exact cause and full extent of the damage remain unknown. The 120 displaced residents have been relocated to other nursing homes within the same affiliate group.
Florence Kawoczka, CEO of Habitat Bucks County, shared that Nduthu had recently achieved her dream of homeownership through the organisation. "She worked so hard to be a homeowner so she could have a better life for her children," Kawoczka told USA Today, painting a picture of a woman dedicated to building a secure future for her family—a future abruptly ended by Tuesday's tragic events.
