LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Two employees died after an explosion at a factory in Louisville, Kentucky, that caused the building to partially collapse and blow out windows of nearby homes and businesses, the company said Wednesday.

The explosion occurred on Tuesday in the afternoon at Givaudan Sense Colour, which produces colorants for food and beverages.

“We mourn with the families, friends and loved ones of those killed and injured during this very difficult time,” the company said in a statement. The statement was included.

Firefighters rescued and evacuated scores of people from the building, including several with life-threatening injuries, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said Tuesday night. Greenberg said authorities accounted for everyone working at the facility at the time.

It was previously reported that at least 11 employees were hospitalized.

The reason was being investigated. Greenberg said officials spoke with employees inside the facility and they “initially conveyed that everything was normal when the explosion occurred.”

The company said it was in the early stages of investigating the cause of the incident and was cooperating with authorities.

“We appreciate their heroic response and extend our thanks to those in the community who showed their support throughout the day,” the company said. he said.

Patrick Livers lives in the neighborhood just across the railway line from the factory. He was at work when his mother, who had picked up her children from school and brought them home, called to say that her house had been damaged by the explosion.

“‘What are you talking about?’ Then he showed me the video and I said, ‘Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.’

Livers said no one was home at the time. He said the explosion blew out windows up and down the street.

“The house is still standing. There’s only structural damage. If it’s on the wall, it’s on the ground,” he said. “All the neighbors’ windows were blown out, doors were blown in. It looked like a small tornado had blown through the house.”

Steve Parobek was at work when the explosion blew out the kitchen window of his apartment a block from the factory. When he got home, he found his cat safe and closed his window using two pizza boxes and some duct tape as temperatures dropped steadily Tuesday night.

The Louisville Fire Department was handling the investigation as of Tuesday night, with assistance from state and federal partners. A reconstruction team from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives traveled to Louisville to help determine the cause of the explosion.

In the explosion that occurred in the same place in April 2003, a worker at the caramel dyeing factory owned by DD Williamson lost his life. & Co. Givaudan acquired the facility from DD Williamson in 2021.

Federal investigators found that the pressure relief valve on the tank was removed when the company moved it to the Louisville plant in 1989. The tank exploded because it had no relief valve, according to a report from the Chemical Safety Board.

Associated Press journalists John Raby and Bruce Schreiner contributed to this report.