2 employees killed in Kentucky factory blast that damages surroundings

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky: A devastating explosion at the Givaudan Sense Colour factory in Louisville, Kentucky, left two employees dead and caused extensive damage to the surrounding neighborhood on November 12 afternoon.

The blast partially collapsed the factory building, shattered windows in nearby homes and businesses, and sent shockwaves through the community.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed that firefighters had rescued and evacuated multiple people from the factory, with some suffering life-threatening injuries.

A spokesperson for the mayor reported that in addition to the two fatalities, 11 other individuals were injured. The cause of the explosion remains unknown, though employees reported normal activity just before the incident. Givaudan stated it is cooperating fully with authorities in the investigation.

Local residents faced significant property damage from the blast. Patrick Livers, who lives across from the factory, returned to find his home's windows blown out and structural damage throughout his neighborhood. "All the neighbors' windows busted out, doors blown in. It looked like a small tornado went off inside the house," he said.

Another resident, Steve Parobek, found his apartment's kitchen window shattered from the explosion. He improvised by taping two pizza boxes over the window to keep the cold night air out.

The Louisville Fire Department, supported by state and federal partners, is leading the investigation. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives dispatched a reconstruction team to assist in determining the cause.

This tragedy comes nearly two decades after a similar incident at the same site. In 2003, an explosion at the factory, then owned by D.D. Williamson & Co. claimed the life of a worker. Federal investigators later found that a missing pressure relief valve on a tank caused the explosion. Givaudan acquired the plant from D.D. Williamson in 2021.

Givaudan expressed condolences to the victims' families and gratitude to emergency responders, acknowledging the community's support in the aftermath.