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Damage to the Givaudan Sense Colour plant is seen after an explosion at the facility in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. November 12, 2024 in a drone photograph.
Michael Clevenger | Via Reuters
Two people have been killed and others injured in an explosion in Louisville, Kentucky, Tuesday that had prompted a shelter-in-place order.
The blast in a neighborhood east of downtown around 3 p.m. local time injured 12 people, some with life-threatening injuries, officials have said.
Food and cosmetics company Givaudan said that the blast occurred at its Sense Colour factory, and that two of its team members were killed. It was not clear if the two people who died were among the 12 counted injured.
The city’s emergency services posted on X that there was a “hazardous materials incident” at the facility, which makes natural food colorings. Louisville Metro Police said officers blocked off the roads around the location.
It is the scene of a “large scale incident,” the Louisville Fire Department said on X. A shelter-in-place order was lifted about an hour after it was issued Tuesday afternoon.
Fire Chief Brian O’Neill told reporters the response was for an explosion, structural collapse and hazardous material incident. He credited the workers with their emergency response to get most people out.
Firefighters rescued one person who was trapped and assisted others in escaping the building.
“Once we got the fire knocked down, we immediately started air monitoring for the immediate area,” O’Neill said. “You may have heard that there was an evacuation; that was a precautionary measure.”
He added that it was ordered because authorities did not know what they were up against and that the air monitoring continues. Officials said some people were evacuated because they were unable to shelter inside because of blown-out windows.
Nothing has shown chemical issues in the air to cause concern, O’Neill said. Monitoring will continue as the structural issues may create new leaks, he said.
Video from NBC affiliate WAVE of Louisville showed a large police presence and emergency services vehicles lining what appeared to be a residential street.
Firefighters and trucks were roughly two blocks from where the caution tape blocked off the road.
WAVE anchor John Boel posted video from the station’s sky track camera that he said caught the moment of an explosion in Clifton, where the fire was.
The shelter-in-place order was later lifted.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg praised first responders, who he said saved lives, and expressed his condolences for those affected.
“My thoughts are with those who suffered injuries as a result of this tragedy, and we will continue to do everything possible to help these families,” Greenberg said in a statement.
The cause of the explosion is under investigation. A reconstruction team from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was headed to Louisville Tuesday to assist, he said.
Givaudan said it was fully cooperating with investigators and called the actions of first responders heroic.
“Our priority right now is on our team members, the families of those we have lost and those that were injured in this accident,” the company said. “We are in touch with them, and committed to supporting them in the coming days and weeks.”
