A catastrophic explosion on Friday evening at the R.M. Palmer Co. chocolate plant in West Reading, Pennsylvania, resulted in the deaths of five individuals, left eight injured, and caused extensive damage to nearby buildings and homes. Authorities continued their search for at least six missing persons on Saturday.
Wayne Holben, Chief of Police at the West Reading Borough Police Department, reported that the explosion occurred just before 5 p.m. The cause of the incident at the plant, located approximately 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia, remains under investigation.
Authorities have yet to release the identities of those killed, injured, or missing. The explosion sent a plume of black smoke into the air, leveling a building on the facility's grounds and causing damage to an adjacent structure. Holben urged the public to avoid the area surrounding the factory.
Early Saturday, photos depicted smoke billowing from the site as firefighters continued their search for survivors. West Reading Mayor Samantha Kaag described the explosion site as "pretty leveled," adding that the blast was so powerful it shifted a nearby building four feet forward. While residents were advised to move back from the explosion site, no evacuations were ordered.
Jessica Bezler, a spokeswoman for Tower Health, reported that eight individuals were transported to Reading Hospital on Friday night. Two were admitted in fair condition, five were treated and set for release, and one was transferred to another facility.
According to borough manager Dean Murray, some residents were displaced from a damaged apartment building. Murray characterized R.M. Palmer as "a staple of the borough." The company's website states that it has been producing "chocolate novelties" since 1948 and currently employs 850 people at its West Reading headquarters.