7 dead, 10 hospitalized after explosion at R.M. Palmer building in West Reading

An explosion at a West Reading chocolate factory has left 7 dead, 10 hospitalized.

[@matthewmajercak5046]

God bless everyone that is involved in this situation so sad hopefully the other people that are missing are okay .

[@kylieharrison3782]

Gosh! Why do mains gas lines keep exploding inside buildings in the USA? Why doesn't it happen in England or Australia? What do the American's do to cause this frequent event?

[@glennzanotti3346]

It happens in other countries. The reason is usually age and maintenance. Replacing old pipes costs money, which cuts into profits, which cuts into executive pay and bonuses. The buildings in this video are old, so the pipes in and around them are probably old, too.

[@AnitaDil]

Their infrastructure is very outdated hence why there’s been quite a few derailings, bridge failures, flooding and gas leaks. Maintenance is a big issue in some states, profit over lives.

[@chanvalentine8283]

The rich oligarchs refuse to pay for infrastructure.

[@robertsmith-dr5tm]

News reports say two persons killed. Terrible

[@wikidrav3ngaming]

update 5 dead 6 missing and 7 were taken to the hospital 😪

[@dianelafreniere1362]

Palmer has been as much a staple in my life as has CocaCola!! Very sad to hear this news!

[@monkeyboy4746]

If it was a gas leak, the leak may not have been in the building itself but in an underground pipe that failed due to corrosion. Maybe the leak was underground and the basement filled with gas before the people noticed it

[@MarcTelesha]

Allentown gas explanation in Feb 2011 all over again. UGI dug up all the pipes and replaced them. Why didn't that happen in Reading? .

[@monkeyboy4746]

@@MarcTelesha I am not from that area, but the usual answer is that they spent the money elsewhere, somewhere more politically advantageous.

[@jonbender9110]

This affects all of us most importantly the tragedy. The loss of the tradition of their candy it has always been delicious. Our thoughts and Prayers go out to all involved in this.

[@adammiller2246]

God Bless these people.

[@williamgibb5557]

RIP to those and may the missing still be found.

[@dancinrain8307]

RIP Palmer Chocolate Easter Bunnies!

[@terrymraakovich8020]

Great footage, good cameraman

[@charlesharnois3684]

This is Sad, Sorry for the Loss of Lives, We purchase Palmer Products All The Time!

[@golferpro1241]

God Bless those people. That is a gas explosion.

[@PUNKMYVIDEO]

Veruca Salt is among the missing!

[@UQRXD]

All place with gas should have gas detectors that shut off incoming line if gas is detected. But no one has one. Should be as common as a smoke detector at this point.

[@BigDogRidgeback]

A person that has family that works there says at least 8 got killed.

[@apointtomake1517]

Yea, with that much destruction, those 9 unaccounted for are deceased.

[@rowenpugner3872]

@@apointtomake1517 Not true. They actually found one nearly a day later today and rescued them from the rubble. There's a very good reason why they consider people missing and not immediately deceased. ✌🏽

[@paulasoutchek3747]

So basically 11 dead. More devastation. That's a bomb.

[@askew9976]

Damn, all them butter cream eggs lost:(

[@Og-Judy]

Looking at Google maps. Typing in RM Palmer candy pops up as being the large intact building to the right of the smoke and flames. What's missing from googke maps where the rubble with smoke and flanes are in the video, is a smaller 2 story building. Possibly offices and shipping? Still sad though 😢🙏

[@paulasoutchek3747]

I'm sure Cadbury will fill u up.

[@piushorning4869]

boy looking at that water stream, it looks like there isn't much water pressure on that block

[@Og-Judy]

Looking at Google maps. The RM Palmer candy factory is the large building standing to the right of where the smoke and flames are. On Google maps the rubble and fire is what was a smaller 2 story building, maybe offices, next to what appears to be apartments to the left.

[@UQRXD]

The news just makes stuff up

[@nicktesta7382]

They have multiple buildings right next to each other. I made a delivery of chocolate to the building that exploded about 12 hours before this happened.

[@gregmijjares3725]

Accident ! Or Sabotage ?

[@timothyedmiston8756]

Well you can bet chocolate prices will go up

[@Yyt-ru8ce]

It's okay, Palmer doesn't make anything that resembles actual chocolate.

[@tstahler5420]

I'm very curious what caused the explosion.

[@Hausbrauen]

@@aaaaaaaaaa359 No, they still haven't confirmed that. I just watched the live press conference and they're being clear about taking their time to carefully address the cause of this.

[@rickgeller6043]

Chinese balloon.

[@emt5330]

​@Hausbrauen but, I'd be wiling to bet my next paycheck it will turn out to be a gas leak.

[@historychannel897]

liberty flame american greatness

[@tstahler5420]

@@emt5330 I guess Palmer chocolate is a couple of buildings making up one complex. Otherwise, a gas explosion would have taken it all. How does a gas leak get that bad and nobody smelled it?

[@FriendswoodKKKtx]

Peeps😢

[@glee1804]

Gas?

[@dw3403]

Thats what they think. Not confirmed.

[@AngelaAlu-rj6rh]

It's sad sad

[@tedlahm5740]

Is/was the gas pipeline capped after the explosion? Before digging in the rubble.

[@dbyers3897]

I think you can answer that question yourself.

[@tylerbourgoin3338]

Doubt it. They would have to find the pipe first. Probably had to dig through a lot of rubble to find it. Only then could they cap it

[@AngelaAlu-rj6rh]

Rest in peace

[@MeoMiyo]

No chocolate Easter bunnies this year.

[@bobo-wf1jv]

Such old infrastructure, those drop wires and poles look like something out of the 1930's .. lots of old utilities in the north east.

[@JohnDoe-es5xh]

The infrastructure in the US is 3rd world like. But they got modern warfare. Find the error.

[@chuckt8457]

Oh no! And so close to Easter 😢

[@maxinetischler9856]

You realize people got killed you wanker

[@robertyoung407]

Easter bunny don't feel like eastering this year😂

[@rowenpugner3872]

It's funny until you've lived though actual hardship. Soon you will, then you will learn tact. ✌🏽

[@Hausbrauen]

@@rowenpugner3872 Yup. That's when life gets real.

[@apointtomake1517]

Gas needs to be shut off, those guys are just pissing in the wind with those hoses. While you should always have hope, those 9 missing probably were blasted into pieces.

[@rowenpugner3872]

They actually found someone alive nearly a day later today and rescued them from the rubble... very uplifting news. This is why it's so important to never lose hope.

[@douglasscott5623]

Adding a comment.

[@jefferyeshbach]

Womelsdorf ladder 47 was covering for 18

[@terryarmour8638]

😊😊

[@JohnDoe-es5xh]

Just listening to the song "Candyman" 😁

[@HLLRAZRMuGGZ-xg5co]

Dammit elmer fudd got his wabbit ! 🤣🤣🤣 Sad thou hopefully everyone got out safe !

[@TheLecher76]

Did you actually read the title? Try again.

[@HLLRAZRMuGGZ-xg5co]

@@TheLecher76 yeah and do you know who I am ?? No so fyi am a great insulter famous sorta and I been a vol. fireman 35 yrs so we like joke around note I said hopefully no one was hurt or killed . So 🖕 and read the comment more carefully .

[@rowenpugner3872]

Word of advice: If you don't act like an adult online, nobody's going to believe otherwise. People assume you're a chlld because you type and act like one. I'm sure you're going to try saying something snarky in response to this, but it's good advice to heed if you actually care at all about how you're perceived.

[@jay3302]

My money is on the oompa loompas!