An explosion followed by a blaze killed two people at a West Reading chocolate factory and hurt eight as authorities search for at least five others considered unaccounted for.
The blast occurred shortly before 5 p.m. Friday at R.M. Palmer Company factory triggering flames and smoke through the building, Reading Police Chief Wayne Holben said.
Officials said that one person was found alive overnight providing rescuers hope to continue their search for survivors.
“It's pretty leveled,” Mayor Samantha Kaag said of the site. “The building in front, with the church and the apartments, the explosion was so big that it moved that building four feet forward.”
Authorities said that the cause of the deadly explosion was still undetermined.
“We did not receive any calls regarding a gas leak or gas order prior to the incident,” UGI Utilitiesson Joseph Swope said.
“But we are cooperating with the investigation and part of that will be to check all our facilities in the vicinity.”
