Louisville Factory Explosion Claims Two Lives, Injures 12 Others
A devastating explosion occurred on November 12, 2024, at a food coloring manufacturing facility in Louisville, Kentucky, resulting in two fatalities and 12 injuries. The blast, which happened around 3 p.m. at the Givaudan Color Sense plant, caused significant damage to the facility and nearby buildings, shattering windows and prompting a hazardous materials response.
The Incident
The explosion led to a partial collapse of the facility and injured 12 workers, with two in critical condition. Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene, evacuating adjacent blocks and issuing a shelter-in-place order for a 1-mile radius. Fortunately, the shelter-in-place order was lifted by 4:40 p.m.
Facility History
The Givaudan Color Sense plant has faced previous incidents, including:
– *2003 Explosion*: A catastrophic vessel failure resulted in one fatality when the facility was owned by D.D. Williamson & Co. (DDW).
2023 Citations: The plant received two citations from the Louisville Air Pollution Control District for failing to provide compliance reports and releasing excessive food coloring powder into the air.
Investigation and Response
The cause of the explosion remains unknown. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the factors contributing to the incident. Neighbors had previously complained about strange odors emanating from the facility.
Casualties and Response
Two individuals lost their lives in the explosion, and 12 others were injured. Injured workers were transported to the University of Louisville Hospital and Baptist East Hospital for treatment ¹.
