An explosion on a site of the Swiss group Givaudan in the United States left two dead and several injured. The causes of the explosion, which occurred late Tuesday afternoon at a dye factory in Louisville, Kentucky, are not yet known.
The first victim died of his injuries in hospital while the second was found in the rubble by firefighters. According to media reports, around ten other people were injured in this explosion.
“We are in mourning with the families, friends and loved ones of those who lost their lives or were injured during this very difficult period,” the Geneva group said in a press release.
Homes and buildings in the immediate vicinity of the factory were damaged. At a press conference, the city’s mayor, Craig Greenberg, called on people living near the Givaudan site not to remove debris that may have landed in their gardens themselves, as ” “They will help investigators understand what happened.”
“This is an incredibly sad and tragic incident,” he said Wednesday, explaining that the two people who lost their lives had gone to work on what was “an ordinary day to provide for the needs of their family, when the unthinkable happened.
“We are in the early stages of the investigation to determine the causes of this incident and are cooperating with first responders and support organizations,” said Givaudan, which produces perfumes and food flavorings.
The accident occurred in the factory of a food coloring manufacturer that Givaudan had bought at the end of 2021.
The Swiss group, whose turnover last year amounted to 6.9 billion francs, is active in perfumes and scents for hygiene and laundry products as well as in flavorings for the food industry.
