According to reports, at least one other body has been recovered from the rubble at the R.M. chocolate factory in Berks County, Pennsylvania, which experienced a major explosion on Friday evening.
A reporter from the Allentown, Pennsylvania, independent news station WFMZ observed a coroner’s van respond to the location on Sunday afternoon to remove a body.
Earlier on Sunday, officials confirmed that four people had died due to Friday’s explosion and that three more remained unaccounted for; today, two individuals are still missing, and the death toll has increased to five.
Friday at 5 p.m., firefighters responded to the R.M. Palmer Company for reports of an explosion and a multi-alarm fire.
The explosion destroyed building 2 and damaged building 1 at R.M. Palmer. Now, investigators are working to discover the cause of the explosion.
On Saturday morning, officials described the discovery of a living human amid the wreckage as a “sign of hope.”
A spokesperson for UGI Utilities stated that crews were dispatched after the explosion caused the flow of gas that fed the fire.
Joseph Swope of UGI stated that the utility company had not received any reports of a gas leak but that it was working with investigators by inspecting all nearby facilities.
Frank DeJesus, whose daughter was working in the next building at the time of the explosion, reported that plant employees complained of smelling gas throughout the day.
