Louisville factory explosion
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Date | November 12, 2024 |
---|---|
Time | c. 3 p.m. (EST) |
Location | Louisville, Kentucky, US |
Coordinates | 38°15′13″N 85°42′47″W / 38.25361°N 85.71306°W |
Deaths | 2 |
Non-fatal injuries | 12 |
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]
Background
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]- ^ Yeung, Jessie (November 14, 2024). "What we know about the deadly factory explosion in Louisville, Kentucky". CNN. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
- ^ a b c "2 dead in plant explosion in Louisville's Clifton area that damaged homes, businesses". WDRB. November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
- ^ Tucker, Emma (November 12, 2024). "2 dead and others hurt after explosion at a business in Louisville, Kentucky, neighborhood". CNN. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
- ^ "Explosion at Kentucky business injures 11 workers, shatters windows in surrounding neighborhood". AP News. November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Documents: Louisville plant cited twice since international company took ownership in 2021". whas11.com. November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
- ^ "D.D. Williamson & Co. Catastrophic Vessel Failure | CSB". www.csb.gov. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
- ^ "Neighbors of Kentucky factory describe years of odors before explosion that killed 2, injured 11". AP News. November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 14, 2024.