United States: In a late-night development, WAVE News has secured a formal statement from Givaudan Sense Colour, confirming the tragic loss of two of their employees in the Tuesday explosion that reverberated through Louisville’s Clifton neighborhood on November 12.
Here is Givaudan Sense Colour’s full statement:
“Earlier today, an explosion occurred at our Sense Colour facility in Louisville, Kentucky. It is with deep sorrow that we share the passing of two team members due to this tragic incident. Additionally, several others sustained injuries. Our hearts are with the families, friends, and all those grieving during this challenging period, as reported by wave3.com.
City authorities have stated there is no persistent risk to those in the immediate or surrounding areas. There have been reports of property damage to homes and structures near the factory, and we are in active communication with first responders who are assisting those impacted.
Currently, our focus remains on investigating the origin of this incident, and we are cooperating closely with emergency responders and other supporting agencies. We extend our gratitude to them for their swift actions and also to the community for the support extended throughout the day.
Our priority is firmly on our team members, the families of those we have lost, and those injured in this incident. We are reaching out to them, offering unwavering support in the days and weeks to come,” according to wave3.com.
At around 10 pm on Tuesday, Louisville officials reported that 12 individuals from Givaudan Sense Colour had been admitted to hospitals after the explosion. Two employees were extricated by Louisville Fire personnel.
Dr Jason Smith, Chief Medical Officer at the University of Louisville Hospital, confirmed that seven victims are being treated at UofL Hospital. Among them, two are in critical condition, while the remaining five are stable. At this time, it’s uncertain if the two fatalities are among the initial 12 hospitalized or if they were additional victims found amid the plant’s remnants.
Each of the seven individuals transported to UofL Hospital underwent a decontamination procedure. According to Dr Smith, this process, which may take up to 15 minutes, involves the removal of clothing and any residual chemicals before further medical care. Due to uncertainties regarding potential chemical exposure, the decontamination was thorough and precautionary, as per wave3.com.
The injuries observed were varied, including severe burns, trauma from the explosion’s force, as well as injuries caused by falling debris. Thankfully, no significant active bleeding was reported.
It has been some time since UofL Hospital has dealt with an incident of this magnitude, noted Dr. Smith.
The remaining injured were treated at Baptist East Hospital.
The explosion was reported at approximately 3 pm on Tuesday at 1901 Payne Street, a location just a few miles from downtown Louisville. Givaudan Sense Colour now occupies the facility formerly known as DDW.
Louisville Metro Emergency Services has lifted the initial shelter-in-place advisory for those within a mile radius, although residents within two blocks were evacuated.
“I had just come home about twenty minutes before the explosion,” Marvin Croomes, a Payne Street resident, recounted. “I was speaking with my mother when a sudden, thunderous boom shook the entire house.”
While the blast’s shockwaves could be felt across the metro area, its immediate aftermath left a visible trail of damage throughout Clifton, as per wave3.com.
“We were barred from entering for about an hour or two,” stated Eric Hart, a landlord in the area. “Eventually, we were allowed access and began boarding up shattered windows to survey the damage.”
The neighborhood’s echoing blast soon gave way to the hum of saws as residents along Frankfort Avenue began securing broken windows and assessing the extent of the destruction.
“Fortunately, it only affected a few windows; everyone is safe,” commented Jason Baker, a property owner in Clifton. “I have four kids and two businesses – this is something we can manage,” according to reports by wave3.com.
So far, no injuries have been reported among those outside the factory premises.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, in an update, stated that the cause of the explosion remains unknown. Greenberg confirmed that all employees and surrounding individuals have been accounted for.
Those within Givaudan’s team who were inside at the time reported that operations were running normally prior to the explosion.
Air quality monitoring in the vicinity presently shows no signs of hazardous contamination. Mayor Greenberg advised residents to continue exercising caution and avoid the area. No further evacuations are expected.
City officials are inquiring with the company regarding the nature of the chemicals stored on-site.
Several businesses along Clifton’s Frankfort Avenue, including Quills Coffee and Osaka Japanese restaurant, have reported structural damages from the blast. Photos reveal shattered windows and other external damage, as per wave3.com.
SkyTrack cameras from WAVE captured the explosion from afar, showing an initial spark that escalated into a towering plume of smoke.
For longtime residents of the area, this scene stirs haunting memories. One business owner who has operated in Clifton for five decades recalled previous explosions at the same location: one in the 1990s and another in 2003, which resulted in one fatality.
“I’ll wager that ammonium nitrate had a part in it again – I know from experience how volatile it can be,” remarked Scott Nussbaum, owner of a nearby antique store.
As the community embarks on a thorough cleanup and awaits further investigation, residents are left to ponder the severity of the incident and how it might have escalated.
“With so many people in this neighborhood, if it had been something larger, who knows what the outcome could have been?” questioned Jacob Hayden, a Clifton resident.
Greenberg, along with other response agencies, is expected to deliver additional information in an update on Wednesday at 10 am.
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