Drone footage shows a scene of destruction

A deadly one explosion at a chemical plant in Louisville, Kentucky from Tuesday is now under investigation.

The explosion occurred at the Givaudan Sense Color facility around 3 p.m., blowing out windows in the area. The Louisville Metro Emergency Services called the situation a “hazardous materials incident” on X.

Brian O’Neill, chief of the Louisville Fire Department, said at the news conference that the department knew upon arrival that they were not dealing with a fire alone. Instead, there was a structural collapse and a hazardous materials incident.

Aerial drone footage at the site of the explosion shows the damage it left behind. City officials said the explosion also damaged several nearby homes and businesses.

View drone footage of a damage explosion left behind in Louisville

Drone footage shows damage from explosion at Givaudan Sense Color factory

A drone shows damage to the Givaudan Sense Color factory in Louisville’s Clifton neighborhood after an explosion occurred Tuesday.

Two people were killed in the explosion

“The first victim passed away at the hospital and died as a result of injuries sustained in the explosion,” Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said at Wednesday morning’s news conference. “The second victim was found in the rubble late last night as Louisville firefighters entered the building to confirm everyone had been reported.”

“There will be an investigation into exactly what happened,” O’Neill said. “I know many of you are probably concerned about what actually happened. Why did it happen? And I’m going to apologize in advance, we don’t have those answers right away. That will be part of the investigation.”

Executive Director Louisville Metro Emergency Services Jody Meiman said they were working to evacuate the area.

“We only evacuated an area of about a block and a half to the people who were directly involved, and that was mainly because they had no shelter because their windows were shattered as a result of the explosion,” he said. “Some firefighters who were not assigned to enter the building were knocking on doors. We took the people who had to leave the area to a specific location where they were safe.”

Two victims were employees of Givaudan Sense Color

Stefanie Lauber, head of corporate communications at Givaudan Sense Colour, told The Courier-Journal that the two people killed in the explosion were employees and said 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, chief medical officer at the University of Louisville Hospital, said doctors treating victims encountered a “spectrum of injuries” consistent with an explosion, including blast injuries, thermal injuries and injuries from falling debris.

It was initially believed that all employees were spotted shortly after the explosion, Greenberg said. But O’Neill said it became clear later that evening that one person had not been found. Firefighters continued their search, he said, and found the second victim fatally injured “in an area amidst the rubble” just after midnight.

Mayor Greenberg held a moment of silence for the two people who died, who had not yet been publicly identified out of respect for their families.

Contributing: Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY.