11 hospitalized after explosion at Louisville food-coloring factory

Nov. 12 (UPI) - An explosion at a food-coloring factory Tuesday in Louisville, Ky., hospitalized at least 11, including two in critical condition.

The explosion occurred at the Givaudan Sense Colour's factory at 1901 Payne St. in Louisville at about 3 p.m. EST and caused part of the factory's roof to collapse.

Seven of the 11 injured workers are undergoing treatment at University of Louisville Hospital, where two are in critical condition and five are in stable condition.

The workers suffered burns and trauma injuries from the blast and falling debris. Several being treated were decontaminated due to exposure to different types of chemicals.

Many workers initially were listed as missing and trapped inside the building, but Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said all workers and managers are accounted for and no fatalities occurred.

Local officials issued a shelter-in-place order for residences and commercial properties located within a mile of the factory in Louisville's Clifton neighborhood after the explosion occurred but lifted the order at 4:39 p.m.

The factory is located in a mostly residential area, and the explosion damaged many windows on properties in the area.

A local weather camera located some distance from the factory recorded the explosion, and the video shows a spark followed by thick smoke filling the air, WAVE reported.

Part of the factory collapsed due to the explosion, the cause of which is under investigation. Some have suggested an ammonia leak at the food-coloring plant could be to blame.

The Louisville Fire Department confirmed an ammonia leak was detected and many people in the area said they smelled ammonia, WLKY reported.

Ammonia can be very flammable and explode when it leaks and collects inside a closed space, according to the American Institute of Chemical Engineers .

A leaking liquid ammonia tank caused an explosion at a peanut oil processing plant and the release of a toxic cloud in Dakar, Senegal, that killed 129 and injured 1,150 in 1992.