Current:Home > Scams'I heard it and felt it': Chemical facility explosion leaves 11 hospitalized in Louisville -TrueNorth Capital Hub
'I heard it and felt it': Chemical facility explosion leaves 11 hospitalized in Louisville
View
Date:2025-04-14 14:29:28
An explosion at a chemical facility in Louisville, Kentucky Tuesday afternoon left at least 11 people hospitalized, officials confirmed.
The blast occurred around 3 p.m. local time at the Givaudan Sense Colour facility, blowing out windows in the surrounding area. The Louisville Metro Emergency Services called the situation a "hazardous materials incident" on X.
No deaths were reported and the cause of the blast remains under investigation, Mayor Craig Greenberg said at a news conference Tuesday. He added a that few homes were evacuated as a precaution but no further evacuations are planned.
"We are working to get more details from the company so we can have more information on what was inside the facility [and] what chemicals might have been involved. We don't have that information," Greenberg told reporters.
A weather camera from WAVE-TV caught the incident, showing a large amount of smoke coming from the building Tuesday afternoon. Aerial footage shared by local station WLKY captured the destruction to a significant portion of the building.
Shelter-in-place order lifted at 4:39 p.m.
Officials urged people to stay away from the area in the city's Clifton neighborhood as the investigation is underway.
The shelter-in-place order, which went into effect within a 1-mile radius of the explosion, was lifted at 4:39 p.m., according to a LENSAlert from Louisville Metro Emergency Services.
"For right now please air on the side of caution until we get the results we are looking for," Greenberg said. "Please avoid the area if you can. Not because there is any danger but because there is still a lot of emergency personnel on the scene."
Greenberg said another press conference could be held later in day as more information is available.
Officers from Louisville Metro Police's Fifth Division have blocked the roadway near the scene, the Louisville Metro Police Department officials said on social media. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are also assisting.
'It was so loud. I couldn’t believe it'
Arthur Smith, a resident of the Clifton neighborhood, said he was walking along South Spring Street when he heard the bang. Unsure of what exactly happened, he said it’s unlike anything he’s experienced while living in the neighborhood.
"I heard it and felt it in the ground," Smith told the Louisville Courier Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network. "I tell you what, it grabbed your attention."
Karen Roberts, assistant community director at the Axis at Lexington, was showing off an apartment to a prospective renter when she heard the explosion. Tenants at the 300-unit Clifton complex rushed to their balconies to see what happened, she said.
"It was so loud. I couldn’t believe it," Roberts added. "You can pretty much see the plant in some people’s back windows."
veryGood! (39)
Related
- Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs bills to bolster protections for LGBTQ people
- At least 1 killed, 18 missing in Guatemala landslide
- 'Tiger King' Joe Exotic calls out Florida State QB Jordan Travis for selling merch
- Google unveils a quantum chip. Could it help unlock the universe's deepest secrets?
- 'Deion was always beloved by us': Yes, Colorado is still Black America's football team
- Interest rates will stay high ‘as long as necessary,’ the European Central Bank’s leader says
- McDaniels says he has confidence in offense, despite opting for FG late in game
- What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
- Former Massachusetts transit worker pleads guilty to 13 charges, including larceny, bribery, fraud
Ranking
- DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
- Mali’s military government postpones a presidential election intended to restore civilian rule
- Who's tracking the weapons and money the U.S. is sending to Ukraine? 60 Minutes went to find out.
- Transcript: Sen. Mark Kelly on Face the Nation, Sept. 24, 2023
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- Fans react to Taylor Swift cheering on NFL player Travis Kelce: 'Not something I had on my 2023 bingo card'
- Transcript: Sen. Mark Kelly on Face the Nation, Sept. 24, 2023
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs bills to bolster protections for LGBTQ people
Recommendation
Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
FDNY deaths from 9/11-related illnesses now equal the number killed on Sept. 11
5 dead, including one child, after 2 private planes collide in northern Mexico
Dane Cook Marries Kelsi Taylor in Hawaiian Wedding Ceremony
Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon
Philadelphia officer to contest murder charges over fatal shooting during traffic stop
United Auto Workers expand strike, CVS walkout, Menendez indictment: 5 Things podcast
Influential Kansas House committee leader to step down next month