Kentucky officials investigate explosion heard near plant in Louisville
Kentucky officials issued a shelter-in-place order after an explosion was heard at a Louisville plant in the city's Clifton neighborhood. (Source: WDRB)
Two people were killed and "several other individuals were also injured" as a result of an explosion at the Givaudan Sense Colour Factory in Louisville, Kentucky on Tuesday afternoon, the company confirmed in a statement to Fox News.
Kentucky officials said during a news conference the explosion happened around 3 p.m. in the 1900 block of Payne Street. According to local outlet WLKY, the factory specializes in food coloring and is located in the city's Clifton neighborhood.
It was earlier reported that at least 11 employees were taken to hospitals.
"We are grieving with the families, friends, and loved ones of those that were lost and injured during this very difficult time," a statement from a Givaudan Flavors Corp. spokesman said. "City leaders have stated there is no ongoing threat to those in the immediate proximity or the surrounding community."
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Residents within a mile radius of the explosion were ordered to shelter in place. (WDRB)
Aerial images showed smoke rising from the damaged building, which had a structural collapse. The inside of the building was also visible in a gaping hole caused by the explosion.
"Once our firefighters arrived, they did make an aggressive interior attack," Fire Chief Brian O'Neill said. "We had one person that was pinned. We were able to get them out, rescue them, as well as assist the others in evacuation."
The reported explosion took place in Louisville Tuesday. (WDRB)
O’Neill added that officials were monitoring the air and that there was no sign of "any type of chemical problems in the air."
Givaudan's statement said there were reports of damaged homes and buildings near the factory, and that the company is "supporting those impacted."
"The house is still standing. It’s just structural damage. If it was on a wall, it’s on the floor," Patrick Livers, who lives in a neighborhood immediately across the railroad tracks from the plant, told the Associated Press. "All the neighbors’ windows busted out, doors blown in. It looked like a small tornado went off inside the house."
He was at work when his mother, who had picked up his children from school and was bringing them home, called to say his home had been damaged by the explosion.
WLKY reports the explosion took place at the Givaudan Sense Colour plant. (Google Maps)
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said in a statement Tuesday night officials have accounted for everyone who was working at the plant at the time.
He added officials spoke to employees inside the plant and they "initially conveyed that everything was normal activity when the explosion occurred."
The cause of the explosion is under investigation.
"Our priority right now is on our team members, the families of those we have lost and those that were injured in this accident," Givaudan's statement says. "We are in touch with them, and committed to supporting them in the coming days and weeks."
Fox News Digital's Brooke Curto, Melissa Summers and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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