Louisville factory explosion

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Louisville factory explosion
DateNovember 12, 2024 (2024-11-12)
Timec. 3 p.m. (EST)
Location Louisville, Kentucky, US
Coordinates 38°15′13″N85°42′47″W / 38.25361°N 85.71306°W / 38.25361; -85.71306
Deaths2
Non-fatal injuries12

On November 12, 2024, at around 3 p.m., an explosion at a manufacturing facility for food coloring in Louisville, Kentucky killed two people and injured 12 workers. [1] [2] Injured people, two of whom were in critical condition, were transported to University of Louisville Hospital and Baptist East Hospital. [2] As of November 13, The cause of the explosion is not known. [3] [4]

Contents

Background

Givaudan Color Sense, the plant operator, is a food coloring brand associated with the international Swiss manufacturer Givaudan. The facility was previously owned and operated by D.D. Williamson & Co. (DDW). [5]

The facility was the site of another explosion in April 2003, when, while owned by DDW, one person was killed after a process vessel became overpressurized and catastrophically failed. [5] [6]

In May 2023, the plant was cited by the Louisville Air Pollution Control District for failing to provide compliance reports for air quality control operations. [5] In December of the same year, the plant was cited again for releasing excessive amounts of food coloring powder into the air, which landed on neighboring properties. [5] For years prior to the explosion, neighbors complained of strange smells coming from the facility. [7]

Explosion

At around 3 p.m., on November 12, 2024, an explosion at the facility caused a partial collapse and shattered the windows of nearby buildings. Emergency services quickly responded to the explosion, which was declared a hazardous materials incident. A shelter in place was issued for a 1-mile radius from the area, and an evacuation order for the adjacent two blocks. At 4:40 p.m., the shelter-in-place was lifted. [2]

References

  1. ↑ Yeung, Jessie (November 14, 2024). "What we know about the deadly factory explosion in Louisville, Kentucky". CNN . Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "2 dead in plant explosion in Louisville's Clifton area that damaged homes, businesses". WDRB. November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  3. ↑ Tucker, Emma (November 12, 2024). "2 dead and others hurt after explosion at a business in Louisville, Kentucky, neighborhood". CNN. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Explosion at Kentucky business injures 11 workers, shatters windows in surrounding neighborhood". AP News. November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Documents: Louisville plant cited twice since international company took ownership in 2021". whas11.com. November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  6. ↑ "D.D. Williamson & Co. Catastrophic Vessel Failure | CSB". www.csb.gov. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Neighbors of Kentucky factory describe years of odors before explosion that killed 2, injured 11". AP News. November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
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