Logan Township, NJ community rocked by explosion at Savita Naturals in Swedesboro

LOGAN TWP., N.J. (WPVI) — A massive blast at an industrial facility in Logan Township, New Jersey, sent five people to the hospital on Wednesday afternoon.

The explosion occurred around 2:36 p.m. at Savita Naturals, a commercial facility on the 600 block of Heron Drive in Swedesboro that processes cocoa butter for the chocolate industry.

Gloucester County officials said four of the injured individuals were taken to the hospital in critical condition. One of them is the owner of the facility, according to a relative who spoke with Action News.

Another person from a nearby facility had a medical emergency and was also hospitalized. There was no word on their condition.

A county spokesperson added that all employees at the facility were accounted for.

Several propane tanks are on the decades-old site for production, but the exact cause of the blast remains under investigation.

The explosion was felt across the immediate area – even across the river in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. A doorbell camera in nearby Swedesboro captured the loud boom just before 3 p.m., while other videos showed a plume of black smoke and debris thrown into nearby trees.

Firefighters poured water onto the gutted structure for hours as flames continued to burn. Officials said a neighboring building was also damaged, but the situation is now under control.

“It was a terrible tragedy that took place out there,” said Logan Twp. Police Chief Joseph Flatley. “To the community as a whole, we empathize with those that were involved. The community is safe. There are no ongoing hazards.”

WATCH: NJ officials give update on massive industrial explosion in Logan Township

A shelter-in-place order was issued within a two-mile radius of Heron Drive and High Hill Road, but has since been lifted, according to Gloucester County Emergency Management.

Workers in surrounding buildings described the blast as violent and startling.

“I heard a really loud boom – it shook our whole building. You could feel it go through you,” said James Barber, who works in the industrial complex. “I thought maybe someone hit our building.”

Barber rushed outside to call 911. “I didn’t know if anything else was going to blow up. I was just trying to make sure everyone was fine,” he said.

“The whole sky was a plume of smoke,” another witness said. “I saw all the collapse units, technical rescue teams and hazmat coming from different counties. It was bad when I got here.”

Fire and hazmat crews will remain on site monitoring the burnoff of additional fuel stored at the facility. Air quality is also being monitored.