Latest Breaking News

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,376 posts)

25. Death toll has risen to 7 in West Reading chocolate factory explosion; final missing believed found

Mon Mar 27, 2023, 06:57 AM

Mar 2023

NEWS

Death toll has risen to 7 in West Reading chocolate factory explosion; final missing believed to have been found

The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.

by Ximena Conde
Updated on Mar 26, 2023, 10:54 p.m. ET

WEST READING, Pa. — Almost 48 hours after an explosion at the R.M. Palmer chocolate factory in Berks County, all Frankie Gonzalez and his family could do on Sunday was pray.

Pray that his sister Diana Cedeno, one of the people still missing Sunday morning, was found in the wreckage. Pray that the families of those confirmed dead could find some solace. Pray for those who survived.

Congregants at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Parish at the edge of West Reading echoed Gonzalez’s prayers. ... “West Reading is a small town and everyone is wondering what they could do to help,” Natalie Parisi, 55, said after the service.

By Sunday night, the hope for survivors came to an end, the death toll having risen to seven. The final bodies pulled from the debris were believed to be unaccounted for workers, according to authorities.

{snip}

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

32 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

2 dead, at least 9 unaccounted for after explosion rocks Pennsylvania chocolate factory [View all] Wicked Blue Mar 2023 OP

Terrible, chocolate is supposed to be fun, not deadly. dem4decades Mar 2023 #1

Yes, this loss of life would be tragic under any circumstance Tanuki Mar 2023 #8

Gas leak suspected at RM Palmer, maker of holiday specialty candy. TreasonousBastard Mar 2023 #2

When the building is flat out gone, that's usually the cause. maxsolomon Mar 2023 #28

Or Sugar Dust ProfessorGAC Mar 2023 #29

nuts if that was the cause. maxsolomon Mar 2023 #31

It Definitely Was ProfessorGAC Mar 2023 #32

I maybe wrong but the only Chocolate factory in PA i know of is YoshidaYui Mar 2023 #3

Apparently there are a number of others cstanleytech Mar 2023 #4

PA is the Silicon Valley of Snack Food. Candy, chips, pretzels. It's ground zero ZonkerHarris Mar 2023 #5

It says "R.M. Palmer Company" C Moon Mar 2023 #6

Geez...9 unaccounted for? Captain Zero Mar 2023 #7

GOOD, YoshidaYui Mar 2023 #18

Big season, making chocolate Easter bunnies and eggs before the summer slowdown. halfulglas Mar 2023 #9

humidity is a killer, too. mopinko Mar 2023 #13

big natch of pop rocks crushed accidently? lapfog_1 Mar 2023 #10

Hershey's Chocolates outsources much of its products Better Days Ahoy Mar 2023 #11

Palmer definitely markets under its own brand here in Maryland. halfulglas Mar 2023 #14

We went to the Hershey factory when I was a kid. LisaM Mar 2023 #19

Aww, shucks. Better Days Ahoy Mar 2023 #22

Wow. DownriverDem Mar 2023 #12

5 dead at this point. The Jungle 1 Mar 2023 #15

It could be a sugar or cocoa dust explosion Farmer-Rick Mar 2023 #16

In the 1970s in the Pacific Northwest we averaged one to two grain elevator explosions per year jmowreader Mar 2023 #26

See My Post #29 ProfessorGAC Mar 2023 #30

Just so we are all on the same page and understand how chocolate is produced. The Jungle 1 Mar 2023 #17

Gas appliances scare me. LisaM Mar 2023 #20

I grew up with gas and will never have it again. colorado_ufo Mar 2023 #21

The guys at the Peeps factory were looking awful satisfied. tclambert Mar 2023 #23

Sheesh, what an thoughtless post. mahatmakanejeeves Mar 2023 #24

Death toll has risen to 7 in West Reading chocolate factory explosion; final missing believed found mahatmakanejeeves Mar 2023 #25

Oh hell, so many dead, so many injured Wicked Blue Mar 2023 #27