West Reading resident and former Reading Eagle photographer Ben Hasty captured images shortly after the blast in the first block of South Second Avenue, as did Reading Eagle reporter Michelle Lynch and freelance photographer Jeff Doelp.
Reading Eagle photo editor Bill Uhrich was on the scene Saturday as rescue efforts continued and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro visited the scene.
Rescue workers continue to probe the rubble Saturday morning from the Friday afternoon explosion in West Reading at the R. M. Palmer Company, 77 S. Second Ave. An individual was found alive in the debris around 1 a.m. Saturday, according to borough officials. (BILL UHRICH – READING EAGLE)Rescue workers continue to probe the rubble Saturday morning from the Friday afternoon explosion in West Reading at the R. M. Palmer Company, 77 S. Second Ave. An individual was found alive in the debris around 1 a.m. Saturday, according to borough officials. (BILL UHRICH – READING EAGLE)Rescue workers continue to probe the rubble Saturday morning from the Friday afternoon explosion in West Reading at the R. M. Palmer Company, 77 S. Second Ave. An individual was found alive in the debris around 1 a.m. Saturday, according to borough officials. (BILL UHRICH – READING EAGLE)Rescue workers continue to probe the rubble Saturday morning from the Friday afternoon explosion in West Reading at the R. M. Palmer Company, 77 S. Second Ave. An individual was found alive in the debris around 1 a.m. Saturday, according to borough officials. (BILL UHRICH – READING EAGLE)Rescue workers continue to probe the rubble Saturday morning from the Friday afternoon explosion in West Reading at the R. M. Palmer Company, 77 S. Second Ave. An individual was found alive in the debris around 1 a.m. Saturday, according to borough officials. (BILL UHRICH – READING EAGLE)Gov. Josh Shapiro meets with West Reading Mayor Samantha Kaag on Saturday near the scene of an explosion in the borough. (Reading Eagle – David Mekeel)Surrounded by local, county and state officials, West Reading Mayor Samantha F. Kaag and Police Chief Wayne W. Holben hold a press conference Saturday morning on the Friday afternoon explosion at the R. M. Palmer Company, 77 S. Second Ave. (BILL UHRICH – READING EAGLE)Surrounded by local, county and state officials, West Reading Mayor Samantha F. Kaag and Police Chief Wayne W. Holben hold a press conference Saturday morning on the Friday afternoon explosion at the R. M. Palmer Company, 77 S. Second Ave. (BILL UHRICH – READING EAGLE)An explosion Friday evening, March 24, 2023, at a R.M. Palmer Co. building, aka Palmer Candies, at 55 S. Second Ave. in West Reading, drew a large response from local fire companies and police.(JEFF DOELP – SPECIAL TO THE READING EAGLE)An explosion on Friday evening at R.M. Palmer Co., aka Palmer Candies, 55 S. Second Ave. in West Reading, drew a large response from local fire companies and police. West Reading Mayor, Samantha Kaag, was on scene in her fire gear.(JEFF DOELP – SPECIAL TO THE READING EAGLE)
Rubble following an explosion in first block of South Second Avenue in West Reading, Friday, March 24, 2023. (Courtesy of Ben Hasty)Flames shoot from a building on South Second Avenue in West Reading after an explosion occurred early evening, Friday, March 24, 2023, (Courtesy of Ben Hasty)The scene at Penn Avenue and South Second Avenue in West Reading after an explosion Friday, March 24, 2023. (Courtesy of Ben Hasty)Firefighters battle a blaze after an explosion on South Second Avenue near the intersection with Penn Avenue Friday evening, March 24, 2023. (Courtesy of Ben Hasty)Emergency responders and workers outside the R.M. Palmer Co. factory on South Second Avenue, West Reading, Friday, March, 24, 2023. (Courtesy of Ben Hasty)A building exploded in the first block of South Second Avenue in West Reading at R.M. Palmer Co. Friday, March 24, 2023. (Courtesy of Ben Hasty)Traffic backs up on the Penn Street bridge in Reading after an explosion and fire in West Reading Friday, March 24, 2023. (Michelle Lynch – Reading Eagle)A firefighter on an aerial hose ladder direct water on the explosion site in West Reading Friday, March 24, 2023.(Michelle Lynch – Reading Eagle)Penn Avenue in West Reading shortly after an explosion at the R.M. Palmer Co. factory on South Second Avenue Friday, March 24, 2023. (Michelle Lynch – Reading Eagle)An explosion on Friday evening at Palmer Candies, 77 South Second Avenue in West Reading, drew a large response from local fire companies and police.JEFF DOELP – SPECIAL TO THE READING EAGLEAn explosion on Friday evening, March 24, 2023, at R.M. Palmer Co., also known as Palmer Candies, 77 S. Second Ave. in West Reading, drew a large response from local fire companies and police.JEFF DOELP SPECIAL TO THE READING EAGLEAn explosion on Friday evening at R.M. Palmer Co., also known as Palmer Candies, 77 S. Second Ave. in West Reading, drew a large response from local fire companies and police.JEFF DOELP – SPECIAL TO THE READING EAGLE
