A chocolate factory explosion in West Reading, Pennsylvania, on Friday killed five people and left six more missing.
One RM Palmer Company building was destroyed and another nearby was damaged. WPVIAuthorities do not know the number of injured.
#preliminary report 5 dead, 6 missing in West Reading chocolate factory explosionhttps://t.co/6X3skMBShf
— 6abc action news (@6abc) March 25, 2023
WPVI reports West Reading Mayor Samantha Kaag said, “It’s pretty leveled. Unfortunately, there’s not much that can be saved from that.” “The explosion in the church and apartment in front was so loud that the building he moved forward four feet.”
Authorities believe the explosion may have started from a gas leak, but they are still investigating, WPVI reported. No evacuation was ordered due to the explosion. (Related: Candy maker fined after two employees fell into chocolate vat)
According to WPVI, Kristen Wisniewski lives three blocks away from the chocolate factory.
“It was the loudest sound I’ve ever heard in my life,” said Wisniewski. “It literally felt like the ground fell out from under you. The whole house shook and the dog was frozen, stuck and scared.”
NEW – Massive explosion reported at factory producing chocolate in Reading, Pennsylvania pic.twitter.com/wqyr9Kzh9r
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) March 24, 2023
The RM Palmer Company is a specialty chocolate manufacturer with 850 employees and over 500 different products. website.
West Reading Police have reached out to the Daily Caller for comment, but have not yet received a response.
