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Louisville Metro EMS reports a hazardous materials incident

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Eleven people are hospitalized after an explosion at the Givaudan Sense Color plant on Payne Street in Louisville.

What you need to know

  • An explosion rocked the Givaudan Sense Color factory in Louisville

  • Eleven employees are hospitalized. One person was trapped after the building collapsed but was rescued

  • Employees say there was nothing unusual about the explosion

  • An evacuation order remains in effect for two blocks surrounding the plant

At 3 p.m., Louisville Emergency Services and the Louisville Fire Department responded to an unknown explosion at the plant formerly known as DD Williamson & Co. In July 2023, the factory changed its name to Givaudan.


Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville, met with the city's emergency services leaders to update the situation just before 5 p.m. The cause of the explosion remains unknown, but all company employees have been accounted for.

An employee had to be rescued after the building collapsed, but Greenberg confirmed that to his knowledge there were no fatalities.

The exact condition of those hospitalized is unknown and there are no details about the injuries they sustained.

The mayor said officials have spoken to employees at the plant. “They initially communicated that everything was normal at the time of the explosion,” Greenberg said.

It is not known whether the explosion released chemicals from the plant, but Louisville Fire Chief Brian O'Neill said they immediately began monitoring air quality. None of the tests found anything dangerous in the air. But since it is still ongoing, they are asking people to stay away from the area. He added: “If you are in your home, stay in your home. If you are not at home now, please be patient.”

The fire department is using new drone technology to monitor the air in the area. This gives you the most accurate and up-to-date readings.

At 4:46 p.m., the shelter-in-place order was lifted, but the evacuation order for two blocks surrounding the plant remains in effect.

Louisville EMS issued a shelter-in-place order as a precautionary measure, and several homes near the plant were immediately evacuated as the explosion blew out windows and left residents unable to shelter in place.

Givaudan has 12 offices around the world, including the US, UK, Ireland and Brazil. Malaysia and China. The company says it produces its dyes from natural sources such as fruits and vegetables.

According to the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, this is not the first incident at this facility. According to CSB, in 2003, a “process vessel became overpressurized,” releasing ammonia into the air and causing significant damage to the DD Williamson facility, which produced caramel colors.


U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Kentucky, said on X that he and his team are monitoring the situation. He urged everyone in the Clifton, Clifton Heights, Cherokee Triangle, Irish Hill and Butchertown neighborhoods to follow authorities' instructions.

After the explosion, TARC announced it would reroute the buses.

This is a developing story. We will add more details as they become available

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