Investigation Underway in Louisville Factory Explosion

(Reuters) – An investigation is ongoing in Kentucky regarding the cause of an explosion that leveled a Louisville factory, resulting in two fatalities and several injuries.

The blast occurred around 3 p.m. EST (2000 GMT) on Tuesday at a Givaudan-owned factory that produces colors and aromas for the food and beverage industries, as stated on the company's website.

According to the company, two individuals lost their lives due to the explosion.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg reported that twelve people were hospitalized with varying degrees of injuries, ranging from minor to critical and life-threatening.

The Louisville Fire Department is leading the investigation, with support from a federal reconstruction team from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, to determine the cause of the incident.

The explosion was heard citywide, shattering windows in nearby buildings, according to local news reports.

City officials are conducting air quality tests at the site, though no immediate threats have been identified.

A shelter-in-place order was issued for individuals within a one-mile (1.6-km) radius of the explosion, which was lifted approximately 90 minutes after the blast, as confirmed by Louisville Metro Emergency Services.