2 dead and 20 injured after fire and explosion at a Pennsylvania nursing home

Two people are dead after a fire and explosion tore through a nursing home on the outskirts of Philadelphia, prompting local responders, bystanders and staff to rush the elderly residents to safety, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said.

Twenty people were hospitalized with injuries, Bristol Police Chief Charles Winik told CNN early Wednesday. Authorities had previously said some people were missing, but Winik confirmed all nursing home residents and employees have been accounted for.

One of those killed was an employee, the police chief said.

Officials’ preliminary belief is that a gas leak caused the explosion, Shapiro said.

 The investigation is being led by the National Transportation Safety Board, according to a statement Wednesday from PECO, the local utility company, which said, “It is not known at this time if PECO’s equipment, or natural gas, was involved in this incident.”

The NTSB has a division that investigates accidents involving the transportation of natural gas. CNN has reached out to the NTSB for comment.

Crews from PECO responded to reports of a gas odor in the facility shortly after 2 p.m., the company said in a statement Tuesday.

“While crews were on site, an explosion occurred at the facility. PECO crews shut off natural gas and electric service to the facility to ensure the safety of first responders and local residents,” the company said, adding they are not sure whether their equipment or natural gas was involved in the explosion.