Philadelphia Rowhomes Collapse; One Dead, Many Evacuated

An early Sunday morning incident in Philadelphia's Nicetown neighborhood led to the collapse of at least three rowhomes on the 1900 block of West Bristol Street, resulting in one death and two elderly women hospitalized—one in critical condition and one stable. The event, which occurred around 4:30–5 a.m., followed reports of a fire and a possible explosion, although the precise cause remains under investigation. Search and rescue operations recovered a body from the rubble with K9 assistance. Authorities have condemned or evacuated over ten homes, and displaced residents have been moved to a temporary shelter. A collapse zone remains in effect due to ongoing structural instability, and officials are working to determine whether the loud noise reported by neighbors was an explosion or structural collapse. Fire crews and investigators continue their efforts to ensure safety and uncover the cause.