A fire erupted on Friday evening in the RM Palmer chocolate factory in the city of West Reading in Pennsylvania, US. Part of the factory was destroyed and the massive fire left two dead and nine missing. 

Citing West Reading police, local media confirmed that at least six individuals were hospitalized with injuries as search-and-rescue teams alongside firefighters remain at the scene for further investigation. 

Per a spokesperson for Reading Hospital, the hospital received eight injuries, with two being in fair condition, while the others were released. 

Although the cause of the explosion is not yet confirmed, it is suspected to have been caused by a gas leak.

West Reading Mayor Samantha Kaag expressed that the blast's impact was so powerful that a nearby building was pushed several feet. 

"There's not too much to be able to kind of salvage from it," she said.

The chocolate factory was founded in 1948 by Richard M. Palmer Sr. and is known for selling chocolate bunnies. 850 people are employed at the company per the company's website.

The US has experienced a number of disasters lately, particularly train derailments. The train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio last month spilled more than one million gallons of hazardous chemicals, endangering residents and violating a total of 58 federal and state laws.

Ohio experienced another train derailment this month, and so did the state of Arizona. ---- News Agencies 

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