The blast sent plumes of smoke into the air and shook houses in the vicinity. It also caused extensive damage to the factory building and nearby structures
Seven people died in the explosion, including five workers and two visitors. Ten people were injured, including one who was rescued from the rubble after being trapped for hours
Six people were initially reported missing, but they were later found dead by the rescue teams. The identities of the victims have not been released yet
The cause of the explosion is still under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and local authorities
The NTSB said that it is focusing on the role of a natural gas pipeline that runs under the factory site. It said that there was evidence of a gas leak and a fire before the explosion.
The OSHA said that it is looking into whether the factory complied with safety standards and regulations. It said that it had inspected the factory twice in the past five years and found no violations
The R.M. Palmer Company is a family-owned business that was founded in 1948. It is known for producing chocolate Easter bunnies and other seasonal candies. It employs about 400 people at its West Reading facility.