An explosion registered this Friday at a Pennsylvania chocolate factory has left two dead and several missing.
West Reading District Police Department Chief Wayne Holben confirmed that the explosion at the R.M. Palmer Co., in West Reading, had left two dead, nine missing and several injured.
The explosion, which occurred at 4:57 p.m., sent a column of black smoke into the air and caused the destruction of a plant building and damage to a neighboring building. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, Holden said during a news conference.
There was no danger of further explosions, but Holden told residents to avoid the factory area, about 60 miles (96 kilometers) northwest of Philadelphia.
Tower Health spokeswoman Jessica Bezler said eight people were taken to Reading hospital on Friday night.
Two were admitted in good condition and five were being treated and would be released, he reported in an email to The Associated Press. He said a patient was transferred to another center, but he did not give further details.
Berks County Firefighters were still on the scene Friday night.
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