7 Now Dead In PA Chocolate Factory Explosion: Latest Updates

WEST READING, PA — Two more bodies were found Sunday evening in the rubble of a Friday chocolate factory explosion in West Reading, bringing the death toll to seven, officials said Sunday evening.

All seven bodies of the people listed missing have now been recovered, according to officials. West Reading Mayor Samantha Kaag said in a statement Sunday night that none of the victims will be named until officials are certain that all families have been contacted.

“Please understand that this is a devastating loss, but we are truly grateful to bring closure to the families involved in the upcoming days,” Kaag said.

The blast erupted just before 5 p.m. Friday at the R.M. Palmer Co. plant, located about 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia. The death toll climbed in the days since as officials used dogs and imaging equipment to look for signs of life during the careful removal of debris.

A woman was pulled alive from the rubble early Saturday, but officials could not provide an update on her status as of Sunday night.

There were also no updates on the conditions of those taken to hospitals. Reading Hospital said it received 10 patients and transferred two to other facilities, while two others were admitted in good and fair condition respectively and the others had been discharged.

The blast destroyed one building and damaged a neighboring structure, moving it four feet forward. Roadways near the site were closed until 8 a.m. Monday.

Kaag issued an emergency declaration and Gov. Josh Shapiro visited the site Saturday.

The company, which has been a fixture of West Reading for over 70 years and has 850 local employees, said the plant would remain closed and inaccessible as R.M. Palmer worked to restore disabled phone and computer systems.

“We have always viewed our employees as family, and are focused now more than ever on providing any support we can to you and the families of employees directly affected by this tragedy,” the company said in a message to workers, adding it had established a crisis hotline and would be offering grief counseling to employees.

Frank DeJesus said his stepdaughter, Arelis Rivera Santiago, a Palmer employee, was working in the building next door at the time of the blast. The ceiling caved, and she had to crawl under machinery to make it out, he said. DeJesus said he rushed to the scene to find her "shaking and crying hysterically," and she was still too shaken to speak about what had happened.

Plant employees, including his stepdaughter, had complained about smelling gas throughout the day Friday, DeJesus said.

"Everyone complained about smelling gas, and they kept making them work," he said. "The supervisors told them it was nothing. It was being taken care of."

A UGI Utilities spokesperson said crews were brought in after damage from the blast led to the release of gas that was helping to feed the fire.

"We did not receive any calls regarding a gas leak or gas order prior to the incident. But we are cooperating with the investigation and part of that will be to check all our facilities in the vicinity," UGI spokesperson Joseph Swope said Saturday.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.