On Friday, an explosion occurred at the R.M. Palmer Co. plant in Pennsylvania, resulting in the death of two individuals and leaving nine people missing, according to authorities. Chief of Police Wayne Holben of the West Reading Borough Police Department reported that the blast injured several other people, but he did not disclose the precise number of injuries sustained.
At just before 5 p.m., the explosion sent a plume of black smoke into the air, destroying one building and causing damage to a neighboring building, which included apartments. Mayor Samantha Kaag of West Reading Borough described the explosion site as “pretty leveled” and explained that “the explosion moved that building four feet forward” with regard to the building in front containing the church and apartments.
Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the blast in the community located approximately 60 miles (96 kilometers) northwest of Philadelphia.
Report of Tower Health spokeswoman Jessica Bezler
On Friday evening, Tower Health spokeswoman Jessica Bezler reported that Reading Hospital had received eight people.
She stated in an email that the hospital had admitted two individuals in fair condition and that the hospital staff were treating five others who would be released soon.
They had transferred one patient to another facility, but Bezler did not provide any further details. Kaag requested that people move back about a block in each direction from the explosion site, but they did not order any evacuations.
Dean Murray, the borough manager of West Reading Borough, said that the explosion had displaced some residents from the damaged apartment building. Kagg said that borough officials had not been in immediate contact with officials from R.M. Palmer, which Murray described as “a staple of the borough.” According to the company’s website, it has been producing “chocolate novelties” since 1948 and currently employs 850 people at its West Reading headquarters.
