WEST READING, Pa. - The governor of Pennsylvania has ordered commonwealth flags flown at half-staff in honor of seven people whose bodies were recovered from the site of a powerful explosion at a chocolate factory."West Reading, we stand with you — and we’ll continue to provide all the support your community needs," Gov.
Josh Shapiro said in a Twitter post Monday, referring to the borough about 60 miles (96 kilometers) northwest of Philadelphia where the R.M.
Palmer Co. plant blast occurred at about 5 p.m. Friday.West Reading Mayor Samantha Kaag, in a statement Sunday night, called it "a devastating loss" but said "we are truly grateful to bring closure to the families involved in the upcoming days."The Berks County coroner’s office on Monday morning identified two of the victims as 49-year-old Amy Sandoe of Ephrata and 60-year-old Domingo Cruz of Reading and said "additional forensic medical examinations" would be needed to positively identify the other five victims.
Autopsies are expected to be completed by the end of week, officials said.West Reading Borough Chief of Police Wayne Holben said at a press briefing just after 9 p.m.