At least two people were killed and several others were injured in an explosion Tuesday at a plant in Louisville, Kentucky, which partially collapsed the building and blew out windows at nearby homes and businesses.
The explosion occurred around 3 p.m. at Givaudan Sense Color, which produces colors for food and drinks.
The company first confirmed the deaths in a statement to CBS News late Tuesday. “We mourn with the families, friends and loved ones of those who have been lost and injured during this difficult time,” Givaudan said.
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Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and local emergency medical services said Tuesday night that at least 12 workers were taken to hospitals. It is not clear whether those killed were among them or not. Thirteen other people who were injured chose not to be brought to the hospital, EMS told CBS News.
Firefighters rescued and evacuated multiple people from the building, some of whom suffered life-threatening injuries, Greenberg said in the statement, adding that the Louisville Fire Department was searching the building and working with the company to look into Whether all the employees have been traced.
The causes of the explosion are being investigated. Givaudan said he was “cooperating with first responders and paramedic agencies.” Greenberg said officials spoke to workers inside the plant and they “initially reported that everything was normal activity when the explosion occurred.”
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Tyler McClain, a resident who lives about a mile from the business, told CBS News he was in his home when he heard a “huge explosion.” My whole house shook.
Patrick Livers lives in a neighborhood right across the railroad tracks from the plant. He was at work when his mother, who was picking up her children from school, called to say that her house had been damaged by the explosion.
“I was like, 'What are you talking about?' Then he showed me the video. I said, 'Oh, you've got to be kidding me,'” he said.
Livers said no one was home at the time. He said the blast blew out windows up and down his street.
“The house is still standing. It's just structural damage. If it was on the wall, it's on the floor,” he said. “All the neighbors' windows were broken, doors were blown off. It looked like there was a mini tornado inside the house.”
Steve Parobek was at work when the explosion blew out the kitchen window of his apartment a few blocks from the plant. He arrived home to find his cat safe and used two pizza boxes and some duct tape to cover his window as temperatures continued to drop Tuesday night.
University of Louisville Hospital treated seven of the injured, and two were initially in critical condition, said Dr. Jason Smith, chief medical officer at University of Louisville Health. Hospital officials have activated decontamination procedures for the victims, Smith said, a process that includes removing their clothing and all chemicals on them and then taking them for evaluation and treatment.
Louisville Fire Chief Brian O'Neill said air monitoring began immediately after the explosion and “no chemical issues have been observed in the air throughout this area at this point.” O'Neill also said that fire officials “do not yet know exactly what types of leaks may have occurred or may continue,” but he urged residents to remain calm.
The Louisville Fire Department was leading the investigation as of Tuesday night 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 location killed a worker at a caramel-color plant owned by DD Williamson & Company. Givaudan acquired the plant from DD Williamson in 2021.
Federal investigators determined that the pressure relief valve on the tank had been removed when the company moved the tank to its Louisville plant in 1989. According to a report by the Chemical Safety Board, the explosion occurred because there was no relief valve in the tank.