7 Victims Of PA Factory Explosion ID'ed

WEST READING, PA — The seven people killed in a recent explosion at a West Reading chocolate factory were identified by authorities Wednesday as federal safety officials continue to investigate what exactly caused the blast.

The blast erupted just before 5 p.m. Friday at the R.M. Palmer Co. plant, about 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Several employees were reported missing, and authorities spent two days searching for their bodies. According to officials, the last two were pulled from the rubble Sunday, bringing the final death toll to seven.

The Berks County coroner released the names of those killed in the blast during a news conference Wednesday. They have been identified as:

• Xiorky Nunez, 30
• Susan Halvonik, 63
• Michael Breedy, 62
• Diana Cedeno, 44
• Judith Lopez-Moran, 55
• Amy Sandoe, 49
• Domingo Cruz, 60

The National Transportation Safety Board announced a probe into the blast late Tuesday afternoon, calling the incident a “natural gas” explosion and fire. The agency said preliminary information from local authorities and a natural gas utility indicated a gas pipeline was involved, according to The Associated Press.

NTSB is investigating “what caused, how and why the explosion occurred,” according to NTSB spokesperson Keith Holloway.

Other local, state and federal investigations are ongoing.

Pennsylvania State Police have said “everything’s on the table” as fire marshals also try to pinpoint the origin and cause. Some workers told relatives they smelled natural gas before the blast, although the gas utility UGI said it received no reports of a gas leak.

“UGI is cooperating with authorities in the investigation concerning the incident at R.M. Palmer,” utility spokesperson Joe Swope said late Tuesday. He directed further questions to the NTSB.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.