LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WLKY/CNN/CNN Newsource/WKRC) – Two people were killed and several others were injured in an explosion at a plant in Kentucky.
An explosion at the Givaudan Sense Colour food dye manufacturing plant in Louisville, Kentucky, on Tuesday injured 11 people and prompted evacuation orders for nearby residents.
“11 individuals have been transported to local hospitals. All of those individuals that were transported to local hospitals were employees working in the plant,” Craig Greenberg, the Mayor of Louisville said, per CNN.
According to WLKY, two of the injured were in critical condition, suffering from blunt force and burn injuries.
In an update, CBS News, citing a statement from the company, reported that at least two individuals involved have died, with at least 12 employees taken to the hospital. It remains unclear if the two individuals who were killed were among those hospitalized, per CBS.
In a statement to the network Givaudan said that it’s “cooperating with first responders and supporting agencies,” with employees reportedly telling officials that they “initially conveyed that everything was normal activity when the explosion occurred,” according to CBS.
The explosion at the plant was heard throughout Louisville, with residents describing the impact. A witness, identified only as Tyler, lives about a mile away and told WLKY the explosion shook his entire house.
“I was just inside of my house and heard a huge boom and the whole house shook,” Tyler told the outlet.
Emergency officials initially ordered people living within a two-block radius to evacuate and advised those within a one-mile radius to shelter in place due to an ammonia leak.
“We’ve got a new tool in the toolbox that we’re using today. It’s a nine sensor gas monitor that’s attached to a drone. So we’re actually able to get air monitoring samples up in the atmosphere so that we can ultimately make sure that nothing is leaving the site,” Executive Director of Louisville Metro Emergency Services Jody Meimen told WLKY.
By late Tuesday, evacuation orders were lifted, but the shelter-in-place advisory remained for those within a quarter-mile radius. The explosion also caused damage to nearby businesses, with one business owner reporting that windows were blown out of several shops.
“It’s surreal. I mean, didn’t expect this to happen today for sure. It was just seeing the response you can clearly tell it’s a very serious deal, and just praying for everyone that’s involved,” Tyler told the outlet.
According to CNN, Mayor Greenberg confirmed that all employees working in and around the facility at the time of the explosion have been accounted for. He noted that employees inside the plant reported everything was normal when the explosion occurred.
Here’s the full statement from the company:
“We are deeply saddened to share the news that two of our team members were killed today in this accident. Several other individuals were also injured as a result. We are grieving with the families, friends, and loved ones of those that were lost and injured during this very difficult time. City leaders have stated there is no ongoing threat to those in the immediate proximity or the surrounding community. There have been reports of damage to some homes and buildings near the factory and we are in touch with first responders who are supporting those impacted.”
“We are in the early stages of investigating the cause of this incident and are cooperating with first responders and supporting agencies. We appreciate their heroic response and send our thanks to those in the community who have shown their support throughout the day. Our priority right now is on our team members, the families of those we have lost and those that were injured in this accident. We are in touch with them, and committed to supporting them in the coming days and weeks.”
