Louisville factory explosion kills at least 2, injures several others, officials say

At least two people are dead and several others injured after an explosion Tuesday at a factory in Louisville, Kentucky, caused a partial collapse of the building and blew out windows in nearby homes and businesses.

The explosion happened around 3pm at Givaudan Sense Colour, which produces food and drink colourants.

The company was the first to confirm the deaths, in a statement to CBS News late Tuesday night. “We mourn with the families, friends and loved ones of those who were lost and injured during this very difficult time,” Givaudan said.

At least 12 employees were taken to hospitals, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and local Emergency Medical Services said Tuesday night. It was not clear if those killed were among them. Thirteen others who were injured chose not to be taken to hospitals, EMS told CBS News.

Firefighters rescued and evacuated many people from the building, including some with life-threatening injuries, Greenberg said in the statement, adding that the Louisville Fire Department is combing the building and working with the company to see if all employees were located.

The cause of the explosion was investigated. Givaudan said it is “working with first responders and supporting agencies.” Greenberg said officials spoke with employees inside the plant and they “initially conveyed that everything was normal activity when the explosion occurred.”

Tyler McClain, a resident who lives about a mile away from the business, told CBS News he was in his house when he heard a “big explosion. My whole house shook.”

Patrick Livers lives in a neighborhood directly across the railroad tracks from the facility. He was at work when his mother, who had picked up his children from school and brought them home, called to say his home had been damaged by the blast.

“I was like, ‘What are you talking about?’ Then she showed me the video, I was like, ‘Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me,'” he said.

Livers said no one was home at the time. He said the explosion blew out windows up and down his street.

“The house is still standing. It’s just structural damage. If it was on a wall, it’s on the floor,” he said. “All the neighbors’ windows blew out, doors blew in. It looked like a little tornado went out inside the house.”

Steve Parobek was at work when the explosion blew out the kitchen window of his apartment a block from the factory. He came home to find his cat safe and sound and used two pizza boxes and some duct tape to cover his window as the temperature dropped steadily Tuesday night.

University of Louisville Hospital treated seven of the injured, and two were initially in critical condition, says Dr. Jason Smith, chief medical officer for University of Louisville Health. Hospital officials activated decontamination procedures for the victims, a process that involves removing their clothing and all the chemicals on them, then taking them for evaluation and treatment, Smith said.

Louisville Fire Chief Brian O’Neill said air monitoring began immediately after the explosion and “nothing at this point has ever shown any kind of chemical problem in the air throughout this region.” O’Neill also said fire officials “do not know exactly yet exactly what types of leaks may be happening or may be in progress,” but he urged residents to remain calm.

The Louisville Fire Department was leading the investigation as of Tuesday evening with the help of state and federal partners. A reconstruction team from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was en route to Louisville to help determine the cause of the explosion.

In April 2003, an explosion at the same site killed a worker at a caramel coloring plant owned by DD Williamson & Co. Givaudan bought the facility from DD Williamson in 2021.

Federal investigators determined that a pressure relief valve on a tank had been removed when the company moved the tank to its Louisville plant in 1989. The tank exploded because there was no relief valve, according to a Chemical Safety Board report.