At least five people were killed and at least six remain unaccounted for in an explosion at a Pennsylvania chocolate factory on Friday. The officers provided this information.
The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency said in a tweet that Burke County called R.M. In the aftermath of the explosion, the numbers were reported. Palmer Company in West Reading, about 63 miles northwest of Philadelphia. It added that seven people were taken to local hospitals.
A spokesman for Reading Hospital said eight people had been brought to the facility. Tower Health spokeswoman Jessica Belzer said one was transferred, two are in good condition and the others were released.
The cause of the explosion was not clear. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
NBC Philadelphia reported that the explosion occurred at 4:57 p.m. Pictures posted on social media showed massive flames billowing from the building and smoke tower after firefighters arrived.
West Reading Mayor Samantha Kag told reporters that the factory was “pretty flat”. He said the blast was so powerful that it pushed a nearby building forward several feet.
“There’s not much to be able to defend against,” she said.
Richard M. Palmer Sr. founded the company in 1948 selling a handful of chocolates including bunnies. RM The Palmer Company now employs 850 people and sells more than 500 seasonal products, according to the company’s website.