An explosion near an administrative building at the West Haven VA Medical Center in Connecticut left two people dead.
"We received a report this morning that an explosion occurred at the West Haven campus of the VA Connecticut Healthcare System that resulted in two deaths in a non-patient care area," VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said in a statement.
He said that the explosion did not impact patient care at the facility.
"Neither of the victims were VA patients, and patient care was not affected. Emergency personnel are on the scene," the statement said. "Our prayers are with the families of the victims of this explosion."
The New Haven Register reported that the blast was the result of a steam pipe explosion outside of the building.
"Unfortunately, as a result, two workers lost their lives," IAFF, Local 1198, the union representing West Haven firefighters, said in a statement. "Multiple local, state and federal agencies remain on scene investigating. Our condolences to the workers who passed away from this tragic incident."
According to WTNH, one of the workers was from the hospital, and the other was an outside contractor. The two were reportedly working to fix a leak in the steam pipe when the explosion occurred.
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