BRISTOL TOWNSHIP, Pa. – A community is mourning the loss of Muthoni Nduthu, a 52-year-old registered nurse who was killed in the Dec. 23 explosion at Bristol Health & Rehab Center, where she worked caring for elderly patients.
Nduthu, a mother of three adult sons and grandmother to one, died when a powerful blast tore through part of the Tower Road facility, leaving it partially collapsed and uninhabitable. Authorities believe a gas leak may have triggered the explosion, which also claimed the life of a second person. The cause remains under investigation.
According to officials, PECO Energy utility crews were on-site responding to reports of a strong gas odor inside the building moments before the explosion occurred. The blast was felt blocks away, scattering debris and drawing emergency responders from across Bucks County.
Family and colleagues described Nduthu as a compassionate and selfless nurse whose warmth and dedication touched the lives of countless patients. “Her kindness, professionalism, and service to others defined who she was,” one statement from the nursing home read.
Just days before her death, Nduthu had attended the funeral of a close friend. On Christmas Eve, her own family began planning hers. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support her loved ones with funeral expenses and to honor her memory.
Nduthu is survived by her husband, three sons, and granddaughter. Funeral arrangements are pending as investigators continue to determine what caused the deadly blast.
Officials confirmed nurse Muthoni Nduthu was among two killed in a suspected gas explosion at a Bristol Township rehab center, where she worked caring for patients.