Neighbors of Kentucky factory describe years of odors before explosion that killed 2, injured 11

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.

“I had the plant manager’s number at one point and I would call and let them know, ‘Hey, something’s not right.’ They’ve had a lot of issues there,” Strecker said.

In April 2003, while the plant was owned by D.D. Williamson, a tank exploded and killed a worker. Federal investigators determined the tank exploded because it was missing its pressure relief valve, which had been removed when it was moved to the Louisville plant in 1989.

In 2009, D.D. Williamson paid a total of $600,000 in civil fines to the U.S. Department of Justice and the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District to resolve allegations of Clean Water Act violations at the Louisville plant.

Officials said they have not yet determined what…