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    What happened, how many dead, injured

    Online Niel Posted on

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    Two people are dead after a factory explosion in Louisville’s Clifton neighborhood Tuesday afternoon.

    The explosion at the Givaudian in the 1900 block of Payne Street shortly after 3 p.m. hospitalized at least 11 people and blew out windows in the surrounding area.

    The company confirms two deaths in the explosion at Clifton Givaudan

    Givaudian confirmed Wednesday morning the death of two of his employees from the explosion.

    “We are deeply saddened to share the news that two of our team members have lost their lives in this accident. Several other people were also injured as a result,” Givaudan spokeswoman Stefanie Lauber said in an email to The Courier Journal.

    Read the latest: The company confirms two deaths from the explosion

    What does Givaudan do?

    Givaudan, based in Switzerland, produces flavors for the food industry and fragrances for cosmetics and home care products.

    Shelter in place has been erected

    A shelter-in-place order for a 1-mile radius of the blast site was lifted at 4:39 p.m., according to a LENSAlert from Louisville Metro Emergency Services. Authorities urged people to stay away from the area as the investigation is ongoing.

    Officers from Louisville Metro Police’s Fifth Division blocked off the road near the scene, LMPD officials said on social media.

    A WAVE-TV weather camera captured the incident, showing a large amount of smoke coming from the building Tuesday afternoon.

    Students at Breckinridge-Franklin Elementary, located 0.8 miles from the blast site, and Lincoln Elementary Performing Arts School, just over 2 miles from the blast site, sheltered in place Tuesday afternoon but were given permission to quit shortly before 4 p.m., district spokeswoman Carolyn Callahan said.

    Students at the Kentucky School for the Blind were also sheltering in place, officials said in a Facebook post. All students are safe and accounted for at school.

    The cause of the Louisville Givaudan explosion is under investigation

    Givaudan said there was no danger from the explosion to those near the plant.

    “City leaders have stated that there is no ongoing threat to those in the immediate vicinity or the surrounding community,” Givaudan’s Lauber said. “Damage has been reported to some homes and buildings near the plant and we are liaising with first responders to support those affected.”

    The company is in the “initial stages of investigating the cause of the incident” and is cooperating with first responders and supporting agencies.

    “Our priority right now is our team members, the families of those we lost and those who were injured in this crash,” Lauber said. “We are in touch with them and are committed to supporting them in the coming days and weeks.”

    Letters to the Editor: Were you affected by the Clifton blast or have a comment? We want to hear from you.

    2003 Givaudan explosion

    Givaudan also received two citations in 2023 by the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District and had an explosion at the same factory previously in April 2003.

    Watch Wednesday’s news conference about the Louisville Givaudan explosion

    City officials plan a news conference at 10 a.m. to provide an update on the incident, which will be broadcast live on CourierJournal.com.

    Reporters Marina Johnson, Killian Baarlaer, Leo Bertucci, Lucas Aulbach and Connor Giffin contributed to this article.

    Contact Cheryl V. Jackson at [email protected].

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