Officials have confirmed that five people have died and two are missing following a devastating explosion at the R.M. Palmer chocolate factory in Pennsylvania.
The incident took place on Wednesday evening when an explosion occurred at the factory located in West Reading. The blast was so powerful that it caused significant damage to the building, leading to its collapse.
According to witnesses, they heard a loud bang followed by flames rising from the factory. Emergency services were immediately called to the scene and within minutes arrived to find chaos.
Firefighters battled for hours before finally bringing the fire under control. However, officials say that search operations are still ongoing as two people remain unaccounted for.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this terrible accident," said Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf in a statement released on Thursday morning.
"The brave men and women of our emergency services put their lives on line every day to ensure public safety. We thank them for their quick response during this tragic event."
The cause of the explosion is still unknown but authorities say they will be investigating all possible causes including equipment malfunction or human error.
R.M Palmer is one of America's largest producers of seasonal chocolates such as Easter bunnies and Christmas Santas. The company has been operating since 1948 and employs over 500 workers across its various locations throughout Pennsylvania.
As news of this tragedy spreads across the country, condolences pour in from various quarters with many expressing shock at how quickly something like this could happen especially considering R.M Palmer's reputation as a leader in chocolate manufacturing industry.
Note: This article is entirely fictional.