Current:Home > reviewsDrone footage captures scope of damage, destruction from deadly Louisville explosion -Blueprint Money Mastery
Drone footage captures scope of damage, destruction from deadly Louisville explosion
View
Date:2025-04-20 19:37:28
A deadly explosion at a chemical facility in Louisville, Kentucky on Tuesday is now under investigation.
The explosion occurred around 3:00 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.
Louisville Fire Department Chief Brian O'Neill said during the press conference that upon arrival the department knew that they were not only dealing with a fire. Instead, there was a structural collapse and a hazardous materials incident.
Aerial drone footage at the scene of the explosion shows the damage that it left behind. City officials said that the explosion also damaged several nearby homes and businesses.
See drone footage of damage explosion left behind in Louisville
Two people were killed in the explosion
“The first victim passed away at the hospital and died as a result of the injuries sustained in the blast,” Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said at the Wednesday morning press conference. “The second victim was found in the rubble late last night as Louisville firefighters went back into the building to confirm that everyone had been accounted for.”
“There's going to be an investigation to exactly what happened,” O'Neill said. “I know many of you are probably concerned at what actually happened. Why did it happen? And I'm going to apologize in advance, we don't have those answers immediately, That is going to be a part of the investigation.”
Executive Director Louisville Metro Emergency Services Jody Meiman said that they worked to evacuate the area.
“We only evacuated about a one and a half block area to the people that were directly involved, and it was mainly because they couldn't shelter in place because their windows were broken out due to the explosion,” he said. “Some of the the firefighters that weren't assigned inside the building, knocked on doors. We got the people that needed to get out of the area to a certain location where they were safe.”
Investigation:JetBlue plane apparently struck by gunfire in Haiti continued safely to New York
Two victims were employees at Givaudan Sense Colour
Stefanie Lauber, head of corporate communications for Givaudan Sense Colour, told The Courier-Journal, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, that the two people killed in the explosion were employees, saying the company is "deeply saddened" by what took place. There is no immediate threat to the surrounding community, she added, and Givaudan is investigating and cooperating with authorities.
Dr. Jason Smith, University of Louisville Hospital's chief medical officer, said doctors who treated victims dealt with a "spectrum of injuries" consistent with an explosion, including blast injuries, thermal injuries and injuries from falling debris.
Initially, all employees were believed to have been accounted for shortly after the explosion, Greenberg said. But O'Neill said later in the evening it became clear one person had not been found. Firefighters continued their search, he said, and found the second victim fatally injured "in an area into the center of the rubble" just after midnight.
Mayor Greenberg held a moment of silence for the two people who were killed, who had not yet been publicly identified out of respect for their families.
Contributing: Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY.
Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjané covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, food recalls, health, lottery, and public policy stories. Email her at [email protected]. Follow her on Instagram, Threads and X (Twitter) @forbesfineest.
veryGood! (91827)
Related
- Residents worried after ceiling cracks appear following reroofing works at Jalan Tenaga HDB blocks
- Ex-officer says police 'exaggerated' Tyre Nichols' behavior during traffic stop
- Vance and Georgia Gov. Kemp project Republican unity at evangelical event after Trump tensions
- Kamala Harris’ silk press shines: The conversation her hair is starting about Black women in politics
- San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo
- Judge finds man incompetent to stand trial in fatal shooting of Cleveland police officer
- Artem Chigvintsev's Lawyer Says He and Nikki Garcia Are Focused on Co-Parenting Amid Divorce
- Target Circle Week is coming in October: Get a preview of holiday shopping deals, discounts
- Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
- Schools reopen in a Kentucky county where a gunman wounded 5 on an interstate highway
Ranking
- Rams vs. 49ers highlights: LA wins rainy defensive struggle in key divisional game
- Sean Diddy Combs Allegedly Forced Victims Into Drug-Fueled Freak-Off Sex Performances
- A federal courthouse reopens in Mississippi after renovations to remove mold
- Not-so-great expectations: Students are reading fewer books in English class
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- A key employee who called the Titan unsafe will testify before the Coast Guard
- Kroger and Albertsons prepare to make a final federal court argument for their merger
- Wisconsin QB Tyler Van Dyke to miss rest of season with knee injury, per reports
Recommendation
Taylor Swift Eras Archive site launches on singer's 35th birthday. What is it?
6-year-old Virginia student brings loaded gun to school, sheriff's office investigating
Rutgers president plans to leave top job at New Jersey’s flagship university
Bill Belichick looking back on Super Bowl victories highlight 'ManningCast' during MNF
Sonya Massey's father decries possible release of former deputy charged with her death
Trump will soon be able to sell shares in Truth Social’s parent company. What’s at stake?
A key employee who called the Titan unsafe will testify before the Coast Guard
Defense questions police practices as 3 ex-officers stand trial in Tyre Nichols’ death