The explosion of a chocolate factory leaves two dead and several missing | American News

Two people have died and several are missing after an explosion at a chocolate factory in the US state of Pennsylvania.

The explosion happened just before 5 p.m. at the RM Palmer Co plant in West Reading, about 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

One of the factory buildings was destroyed, along with a neighboring property.

Nine people are missing and several have been injured, according to West Reading Borough Police Department Chief Wayne Holben.

He said there were still rescuers looking for people at the scene.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation, he added, also warning residents to stay away from the area.

RM Palmer Co employs 850 people at the West Reading site.

According to its website, the company had been making candy since 1948, specializing in Easter, Halloween and Valentine’s Day products.

West Reading Borough Mayor Samantha Kaag said the factory site was ‘quite level’, adding: ‘The building at the front, with the church and the apartments, the blast was so large that ‘she moved that building four feet forward.”

No homes were evacuated, she said, although people were asked to move back about a block in each direction from the site of the blast.