LOUISVILLE, Kentucky — Cleanup operations were underway on Wednesday following a devastating explosion at a chemical plant that resulted in two fatalities and multiple injuries.

The incident took place Tuesday afternoon at the Givaudan Sense Colour plant located in the Clifton area of Louisville. Although the blast damaged several nearby structures, Louisville Fire Chief Brian O’Neill has stated that there is currently no evidence of hazardous materials being released.

Mayor Craig Greenberg reported that around a dozen individuals were hospitalized, including one of the deceased. The second victim was discovered in the facility after midnight.

During a press briefing on Wednesday morning, Mayor Greenberg took a moment to honor the memory of the two victims, who have not yet been publicly named out of respect for their families.

Stefanie Lauber, who oversees corporate communications for Givaudan Sense Colour, shared with The Courier Journal, part of the YSL News Network, that the individuals who lost their lives were employees of the company. Lauber expressed that the company is “deeply saddened” by the tragic event.

She also indicated that there is no ongoing risk to the nearby community, and Givaudan is actively working with officials to investigate the incident.

“This is an incredibly sad and tragic event,” Greenberg stated during the press conference. “These individuals went to work on an ordinary day to support their families when this unimaginable event occurred.”

Details of the Plant Explosion

The explosion happened just after 3 p.m. local time on Tuesday, producing sounds that were heard from miles away. Firefighters arrived at the scene within approximately three minutes, according to Chief O’Neill’s statements on Wednesday.

Jody Meiman, the Executive Director of Louisville Metro Emergency Services, reported that about 300 emergency calls were made following the blast, which is about three times the normal call volume for that period. A shelter-in-place order covering a one-mile radius was issued for around an hour post-explosion before being rescinded.

“We’re familiar with this business,” O’Neill mentioned. “The companies complete thorough inspections of their first-alarm areas and understand the environment. Therefore, we knew immediately that we were responding to a situation that involved not just a fire but also structural collapse and hazardous materials.”

Despite this, he noted that managing the scene after an explosion poses significant challenges. Firefighters assisted in evacuating several individuals on-site, including one victim who was partially trapped under debris. The specific cause of the explosion remains unknown and will be part of the ongoing investigation.

Dr. Jason Smith, the chief medical officer at the University of Louisville Hospital, remarked that medical teams dealt with a “range of injuries” typical of explosion incidents, such as blast and thermal injuries, as well as damage from falling debris.

Initially, there was confidence that all employees had been accounted for after the explosion, according to Mayor Greenberg. However, O’Neill later clarified that one individual was unaccounted for. Efforts to find this person continued, leading firefighters to locate the second victim, who had sustained fatal injuries “in a central area of the rubble” just after midnight.

“This operation must be conducted cautiously due to the risk of further collapses,” he added.

The Immediate Reaction

Arthur Smith, a resident of Clifton, was walking along Spring Street, approximately half a mile from the plant, when the explosion hit.

“I heard it and felt it in the ground,” Smith recalled on Tuesday afternoon. “It was truly shocking and impossible to ignore.”

Karen Roberts, the assistant community director at the adjacent Axis at Lexington apartment complex, was conducting a tour for a potential renter when she heard the blast.

Residents in the 300-unit building located along Lexington Road rushed to their balconies to investigate the source of the noise, she noted. The power briefly went out in the apartments for about ten seconds, affecting some individuals’ access.

“It was incredibly loud. I couldn’t believe it,” she recounted after responding to calls in her office while police hurried to the location several blocks away. “Some people can even see the plant from their windows.”

The owners of Witches Brew Coffee, which opened on Frankfort Avenue just a few months prior in August, shared a video capturing the moment of the explosion inside their establishment, where artworks were shifted by the blast.

Fortunately, Witches Brew Coffee did not suffer external damage; however, other nearby businesses were not as lucky. Several shops along Frankfort Avenue closed on Tuesday afternoon due to shattered windows, including Beckman Fitness and Quills Coffee.

O’Neill did not provide an initial assessment of the extent of damage to homes or businesses in the area.

Some residences may still have debris scattered in their yards, Mayor Greenberg advised. He encouraged residents to avoid handling debris or assessing damage themselves and instead to contact MetroSafe to assist investigators. Homeowners whose properties were impacted should also get in touch with their insurance providers, he stated.

Community Concerns for Safety

Jacob Hayden, a resident on Payne Street, questioned the appropriateness of having a manufacturing facility in a densely populated region, recalling a similar incident at the same location roughly 21 years ago.

“In my opinion, factories should not operate in residential areas at all,” Hayden expressed. “There needs to be a thorough review of this company’s operations.”

An explosion happened in April 2003 at a plant operated by D.D. Williamson & Co., resulting in the death of one worker and causing a large release of aqua ammonia, as reported by The Courier Journal. The incident was determined to be due to an over-pressurized feed tank. The plant reopened later that same year and was subsequently acquired by Givaudan.

Givaudan, a manufacturer of food coloring, faced two violations last year from the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District. One citation was for not filing annual reports and failing to monitor equipment ranges adequately, while the other was for not reporting excess emissions, which was required by regulations. Both violations were settled for a total of $7,500.

Greenberg mentioned that local residents have expressed concerns about the plant, and these will be addressed once emergency response activities are completed.

“Today isn’t the right time to discuss these issues with the company. Our focus is on the victims and their families, understanding what occurred, and providing support to all affected,” he stated on Wednesday. “We fully acknowledge the neighbors’ concerns, and these will certainly be considered in our future discussions.”

Greenberg added that representatives from Givaudan were invited to the press conference on Wednesday but did not show up.

“Currently, our main focus is on our employees, the families of the deceased, and those who sustained injuries during this incident,” Lauber communicated via email on Wednesday. “We are in contact with them and dedicated to offering support in the upcoming days and weeks.”