Explosion at Louisville manufacturing plant kills two people

At least a dozen employees of the Givaudan Sense Colour plant in Louisville, Ky., were hospitalized Tuesday following the explosion. One person died at the hospital, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said Wednesday, while firefighters found another person Tuesday night under the rubble at the factory. The blast caused a large portion of the factory to collapse and blew out windows of surrounding buildings, said Louisville Fire Chief Brian O’Neill. Officials have not said what kind of chemicals were involved in the explosion or what triggered the blast.

What is known about the factory? Givaudan produces colorings and scents for the food and beverage industries, according to the company’s website. An earlier explosion at the facility occurred in April 2003 and killed one worker, according to local news outlet WLKY. D.D. Williamson owned the plant at the time and Givaudan acquired the facility in 2021.

Dig deeper: Read my report in The Sift about a chemical fire at a factory in Georgia earlier this fall.