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| Explosion destroys Pennsylvania chocolate factory, killing five | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| More people injured in blast at West Reading plant known for manufacturing chocolate Easter bunnies | More people injured in blast at West Reading plant known for manufacturing chocolate Easter bunnies |
| A powerful explosion at a Pennsylvania chocolate factory known for manufacturing chocolate Easter bunnies killed at least five people, left two missing and injured others, according to officials. | |
| The deadly blast obliterated the facility 60 miles north-west of Philadelphia a little more than two weeks before Easter. The cause of the explosion remained under investigation on Saturday morning, but officials have said they believe it may have resulted from a gas leak, WPVI reported, and warned residents to stay away from the area. | The deadly blast obliterated the facility 60 miles north-west of Philadelphia a little more than two weeks before Easter. The cause of the explosion remained under investigation on Saturday morning, but officials have said they believe it may have resulted from a gas leak, WPVI reported, and warned residents to stay away from the area. |
| Video posted on social media showed how the RM Palmer Company building in West Reading, Pennsylvania, exploded about 5pm on Friday. | Video posted on social media showed how the RM Palmer Company building in West Reading, Pennsylvania, exploded about 5pm on Friday. |
| Early Saturday, rescuers found a factory worker who had survived the blast but had been trapped in the rubble, according to the Reading Eagle newspaper. “The discovery provides hope that others may still be found,” West Reading’s police chief, Wayne Holben, said during a press conference. | Early Saturday, rescuers found a factory worker who had survived the blast but had been trapped in the rubble, according to the Reading Eagle newspaper. “The discovery provides hope that others may still be found,” West Reading’s police chief, Wayne Holben, said during a press conference. |
| Rescue crews were using heavy equipment to pull debris from the site. Borough Fire Chief Chad Moyer said on Saturday night that the chance of finding survivors was “decreasing rapidly” but the local mayor, Samantha Kaag, called it “a hold out for hope” to get answers for people. | Rescue crews were using heavy equipment to pull debris from the site. Borough Fire Chief Chad Moyer said on Saturday night that the chance of finding survivors was “decreasing rapidly” but the local mayor, Samantha Kaag, called it “a hold out for hope” to get answers for people. |
| “The building in the front, with the church and the apartments, the explosion was so big that it moved that building four feet forward,” Kaag said to the media. | “The building in the front, with the church and the apartments, the explosion was so big that it moved that building four feet forward,” Kaag said to the media. |
| The history of chocolate factories is littered with disasters. Some explosions have occurred when combustible starch dust used for shaping candies and bonbon centers has ignited. | The history of chocolate factories is littered with disasters. Some explosions have occurred when combustible starch dust used for shaping candies and bonbon centers has ignited. |
| Last month, the confectionary company Mars Wrigley was fined more than $14,500 over a mishap in June at its M&M/Mars plant in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, in which two workers fell into a vat of chocolate. | Last month, the confectionary company Mars Wrigley was fined more than $14,500 over a mishap in June at its M&M/Mars plant in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, in which two workers fell into a vat of chocolate. |
| Emergency responders were able to free the pair by cutting a hole in the bottom of the tank, according to reports. | Emergency responders were able to free the pair by cutting a hole in the bottom of the tank, according to reports. |
| According to RM Palmer’s website, the company has specialized in Valentine’s Day, Easter, Christmas and Halloween chocolates since it was founded in 1948. “What began as one man’s dream has grown into a collection of holiday novelties loved by millions of people … making it one of America’s largest and most innovative confectioners”, the website says. | According to RM Palmer’s website, the company has specialized in Valentine’s Day, Easter, Christmas and Halloween chocolates since it was founded in 1948. “What began as one man’s dream has grown into a collection of holiday novelties loved by millions of people … making it one of America’s largest and most innovative confectioners”, the website says. |