Chocolate factory explosion in Pennsylvania kills five, six more missing

[Still Waters]

At least two people are dead and five are unaccounted for following an explosion at a candy factory in eastern Pennsylvania on Friday, CNN affiliate WFMZ reported Saturday, citing local officials.

The explosion occurred at the R.M. Palmer Company facility in West Reading just before 5 p.m., West Reading Police Chief Wayne Holben said in a news conference on Friday night. The cause for the explosion is unknown and remains under investigation, he said.

“There is no danger to the surrounding area at this time,” Holben went on. “However, the borough is urging residents to avoid the area and follow directions of law enforcement and emergency personnel.”

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/25/us/west-reading-pennsylvania-candy-factory-explosion/index.html

Update:

https://news.sky.com/story/chocolate-factory-explosion-kills-two-people-with-several-missing-12842021

[+susieice]

Our news this morning said 5 dead, 6 missing. Here's a link with pictures.

https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/berks/photos-west-reading-chocolate-factory-explosion/collection_9274fb68-caa3-11ed-a77f-bf824f9364b6.html#tncms-source=Homepage-Top-Stories

This afternoon they said only 2 are known dead, 10 injured and taken to the hospital and a survivor has been pulled from the rubble. 

https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/berks/person-pulled-alive-from-rm-palmer-rubble-in-west-reading/article_ec0d3a76-cb1d-11ed-a4fc-cf8af4ab0a0a.html#tncms-source=Homepage-Feature-(uber)-Article

The borough's police chief announced during a news conference that rescue crews pulled a person alive from beneath the mounds of debris overnight.

As of Saturday morning, officials confirmed the deaths of two people, disputing an earlier statement by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency that five people were found dead in the rubble.

They said five people remain missing and 10 people were transported to nearby Reading Hospital for treatment of their injuries.

[+susieice]

RM Palmer chocolates is best known for it's chocolate Easter Rabbit statues. They make a lot of different varieties of chocolate also.

https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/berks/rm-palmer-name-may-not-be-familiar-but-its-chocolate-is/article_e52bd2e0-cb12-11ed-9eb6-a71c20c59fe3.html#tncms-source=Homepage-Top-Stories

[HandsomeGorilla]

Here's a video of the explosion

https://youtu.be/k3kjCpV8Wjw

[+razman]

Damn, that was major explosion. Geez

[+susieice]

PennLive is saying it was caused by a gas leak.

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2023/03/fatal-explosion-at-pa-chocolate-plant-flattens-building-moves-others.html

The explosion is believed to have been caused by a gas leak, 6ABC reported, but is under investigation.

 

 

“It’s pretty leveled,” West Reading Borough Mayor Samantha Kaag said of the explosion site. “The building in the front, with the church and the apartments, the explosion was so big that it moved that building four feet forward.”

 

 

Edited March 25 by susieice

[Piney]

1 hour ago, susieice said:

RM Palmer chocolates is best known for it's chocolate Easter Rabbit statues. They make a lot of different varieties of chocolate also.

https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/berks/rm-palmer-name-may-not-be-familiar-but-its-chocolate-is/article_e52bd2e0-cb12-11ed-9eb6-a71c20c59fe3.html#tncms-source=Homepage-Top-Stories

I remember Palmer bunnies and eggs from the eighties.

[HandsomeGorilla]

15 minutes ago, Piney said:

I remember Palmer bunnies and eggs from the eighties.

I do, too, but it always seemed like Cadbury was more popular here in the z South growing up. I remember those original cream eggs, holy crap 

[+susieice]

WFMZ is covering the story right now on the  6 o'clock news. So sad to see the impact on the community. The factory employed about 800 people. It shook the area for blocks around and took out power. The area has power now and businesses are open but the road is closed off as it's covered with debris. They said the initial call was someone reporting the odor of gas but no official cause has been released.

 

[+susieice]

The company has issued a statement.

https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/berks/rm-palmer-company-issues-statement-about-fatal-explosion-at-west-reading-facility/article_07c217c4-cb54-11ed-9685-9f93a385ccc2.html#tncms-source=Homepage-Top-Stories

[+susieice]

They announced tonight that they have removed a body from the rubble. There are still 4 people missing and unaccounted for.

https://www.mcall.com/2023/03/25/chocolate-factory-explosion-third-body-pulled-from-rubble-of-west-reading-blast-as-chances-of-finding-survivors-decreasing-rapidly/

[+susieice]

This morning they said another body has been recovered.

https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/berks/fourth-body-recovered-from-r-m-palmer-explosion-site-help-is-available/article_7d4da1e0-cbde-11ed-a8ee-d722b3e09894.html#tncms-source=Homepage-Top-Stories

[Myles]

Awful tragedy.  

[+susieice]

They're now confirming 5 dead as another body was removed today. There are 2 still missing.

https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/berks/5-now-confirmed-dead-in-explosion-at-west-reading-chocolate-factory/article_7d4da1e0-cbde-11ed-a8ee-d722b3e09894.html#tncms-source=Homepage-Feature-(uber)-Article

[+susieice]

Employees were meeting at 4 pm today at a restaurant and walking to the site of the factory, where they will release balloons in memory of the victims.

https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/berks/5-now-confirmed-dead-in-explosion-at-west-reading-chocolate-factory/article_7d4da1e0-cbde-11ed-a8ee-d722b3e09894.html#tncms-source=Homepage-Feature-(uber)-Article

[+susieice]

It was announced tonight that 2 more bodies have been recovered. They are believed to be the 2 people who were still missing. The death toll now stands at 7. So much sadness in the community. The focus will now be on the investigation into what happened. Three buildings that were damaged in the explosion will now be condemned and the street will remain closed indefinitely. The mayor has asked everyone who's building sustained damage to contact her as well as their insurance companies.

https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/berks/officials-announce-two-more-bodies-found-in-r-m-palmer-explosion-rubble/article_16991046-cc39-11ed-b486-eb9443795bf1.html#tncms-source=Homepage-Feature-(uber)-Article

I went shopping this afternoon and one whole aisle is full of Easter candy. There were a lot of Palmer chocolate bunnies and it was sad to see them knowing what just happened. The kids who will happily find them on Easter morning likely won't be as aware as the adults. 

Edited March 27 by susieice

[+susieice]

Just Born and Hershey have released statements. The investigation is continuing. They haven't verified a gas explosion yet.

https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/lehighvalley/just-born-hershey-express-condolences-after-deadly-chocolate-factory-explosion/article_ac23161a-ccd0-11ed-ae55-0325c07d7112.html#tncms-source=More-from-newsroom-(right-column)

[+susieice]

All victims have been identified.

https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/berks/berks-coroners-office-identifies-remaining-victims-of-rm-palmer-explosion/article_9d234732-ce6c-11ed-a7b0-d7f14849c11c.html#tncms-source=Homepage-Top-Stories

The investigation is being led by the NTSB. UGI (the local gas company) has also been on the scene.

https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/berks/ntsb-assumes-lead-in-investigation-of-chocolate-factory-explosion/article_9a3ab7e2-cdd8-11ed-bcbc-d7db86abad02.html

The NTSB - which was on scene Tuesday - says it investigates all modes of transportation, and that a pipeline is a form of transportation that carries products. In a tweet, the NTSB went as far as calling it a "natural gas explosion." Local officials responded to that phrasing. State police say they don't know what caused the explosion at this time.

 

69 News spoke to one employee off camera, who was working next to the building that went up in flames, who says they smelled what they believed was gas right before the explosion.

In a statement, UGI says they have been on the scene since the incident and are cooperating with authorities. The statement goes on to say, "We did not receive a call regarding a gas odor or leak prior to the report of there being an explosion at R.M. Palmer."

OSHA is also conducting its own investigation, but would not comment at this time.

Edited March 30 by susieice

[+susieice]

The company ignores the signs of a gas leak.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/company-ignored-complaints-gas-leak-chocolate-factory-explosion-killed-rcna79158

[Doug1066]

Is Willy Wonka OK?

Doug

[Raptor Witness]

2 hours ago, susieice said:

The company ignores the signs of a gas leak.

The whole point of adding that odor to natural gas, which is odorless, is to save lives. It’s a sad but important lesson.

 

[Raptor Witness]

1 hour ago, Doug1066 said:

Is Willy Wonka OK?

Doug

Come on Doug ….