LOUISVILLE, Ky. — For years, neighbors who lived near a factory in Louisville, Kentucky, complained amongst themselves and to local officials about a variety of strange smells coming from the plant, which produces colorings for food and drinks.
Some described it as an ammonia-like smell, while others said it was more like burnt sugar or burnt caramel. They worried a bit about living so close to the plant, but never expected what happened Tuesday, when an explosion killed two workers, and blew out windows and ripped pieces off the roofs of nearby homes..
''I've always thought about it, like this is unsafe — seems like — because there was always huge steam coming from the place at night. But I never really thought that this would happen," said Shelby Dix, 31, who lives in an apartment in a multifamily home that is separated from the plant property by an alley.
The explosion injured 11 other employees at Givaudan Sense Colour, and caused a partial collapse of the building. Three remained hospitalized Wednesday.
''We are grieving with the families, friends, and loved ones of those that were lost and injured during this very difficult time,'' the Swiss-based company said in a statement.
Amanda Strecker, who lived in a townhouse near the plant from 2018 to 2022, said she had long been concerned about the ammonia-like smell.
''We felt when we lived there that something was going to happen. It was just a matter of time,'' she said. ''We've had a lot of problems with chemical smells in the air, reporting it locally to the environmental office, and them coming out and not finding anything.''
During the first few years Strecker lived in the neighborhood, the plant was owned by D.D. Williamson & Co. Givaudan acquired the plant in 2021.