The explosion at the Louisville plant killed at least two people and injured several others, officials said

At least two people have died and several others were injured after an explosion at a factory in Louisville, Kentucky, on Tuesday caused a partial collapse of the building and shattered windows in nearby homes and businesses.

The explosion occurred around 3 p.m. at Givaudan Sense Color, a company that produces food and beverage dyes.

The company was the first to confirm the deaths in a statement to CBS News late Tuesday evening. “We mourn with the families, friends and loved ones of those lost or injured during this very difficult time,” Givaudan said.

At least twelve employees were taken to hospitals, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and the local emergency services announced on Tuesday evening. It was not clear whether the people who were killed were among them. Thirteen other injured people chose not to be taken to hospitals, EMS told CBS News.

Firefighters rescued and evacuated many people from the building, including some with life-threatening injuries, Greenberg said in the statement, adding that the Louisville Fire Department was combing the building and working with the company to determine whether all employees had been found.

The cause of the explosion was under investigation. Givaudan said it was “working with first responders and relief organizations.” Greenberg said officials spoke to employees at the plant and “initially informed them that everything was normal at the time of the explosion.”

Tyler McClain, a local resident who lives about a mile from the company, told CBS News he was in his home when he heard a “huge explosion.” My whole house shook.

Patrick Livers lives in a neighborhood directly across from the plant's railway line. He was at work when his mother, who had picked up his children from school and brought them home, called to tell him that his house had been damaged in the explosion.

“I thought, 'What are you talking about?' Then she showed me the video. I thought, 'Oh, this must be a joke,'” he said.

Livers said no one was home at the time. He said the explosion ripped out windows on his street.

“The house is still standing. It is just structural damage. If it was on a wall, it’s on the floor,” he said. “All of the neighbors’ windows were broken and doors were torn down. It looked like a small tornado had started in the house.”

Steve Parobek was at work when the explosion blew out the kitchen window of his apartment a block from the power plant. When he got home, he found his cat safe and covered his window with two pizza boxes and some tape as temperatures steadily dropped Tuesday evening.

University of Louisville Hospital treated seven of the injured and two were initially in critical condition, Dr. Jason Smith, chief medical officer at University of Louisville Health. Hospital officials initiated decontamination procedures for the victims, which involves removing their clothing and any chemicals on it and then taking them for evaluation and treatment, Smith said.

Louisville Fire Chief Brian O'Neill said air monitoring began immediately after the explosion and “at this point nothing has ever shown any chemical issues in the air throughout this entire region.” O'Neill also said the fire department ” “We don’t yet know exactly what types of leaks could occur or are ongoing,” but urged residents to remain calm.

The Louisville Fire Department led the investigation beginning Tuesday evening with help from state and federal partners. A reconstruction team from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was en route to Louisville to help determine the cause of the explosion.

In April 2003, an explosion at the same location killed a worker at a DD Williamson & Co. caramel coloring plant. Givaudan acquired the facility from DD Williamson in 2021.

Federal investigators discovered that a pressure relief valve on a tank had been removed when the company moved the tank to its Louisville plant in 1989. According to a Chemical Safety Board report, the tank exploded because there was no pressure relief valve.