### Fatal Explosion at Kentucky Food-Coloring Plant Leaves Two Dead

A devastating explosion rocked a food-coloring facility in Louisville, Kentucky, on Tuesday, resulting in the tragic deaths of two workers. The incident, which happened at the Sense Colour facility in the city's Clifton neighborhood, led to a substantial emergency response and significant structural damage.

Mayor Craig Greenberg, addressing the incident at a press conference on Wednesday, described the explosion as "incredibly sad and tragic." The Sense Colour plant, owned by Swiss company Givaudan, specializes in producing food additives, including caramel used in soft drinks. The exact cause of the explosion remains under investigation; however, officials don’t currently suspect foul play. Monitoring of air quality and site runoff is ongoing, without any hazardous substances detected so far.

The explosion, which occurred around 3 p.m., was severe enough to be heard for miles around and prompted nearly 300 emergency calls. Firefighters rushed to the scene, confronting the devastation left by what Mayor Greenberg termed a "tremendous explosion." Despite their initial belief that all workers had been evacuated, it was later discovered that one worker remained unaccounted for, necessitating a meticulous and perilous search in the partially collapsed structure.

Among the injured, several workers sustained varying degrees of trauma and were taken to a local hospital. One worker, identified by his family as Austin Jaggers, succumbed to his injuries. Jaggers had described himself as an industrial maintenance technician.

The explosion posed numerous challenges for the responding firefighters, including battling the ensuing fire, dealing with the structural collapse, and managing the risk of hazardous materials. Late Tuesday, upon learning of the unaccounted-for worker, they meticulously re-entered the plant, setting up safety measures to avoid further collapse while conducting their search.

This incident has drawn parallels to a similar tragedy at the same plant two decades ago. In 2003, an explosion caused by a pressurized food additive processing tank killed one person and led to a significant ammonia release, prompting an extensive emergency response.

Local residents experienced the impact of the explosion firsthand. Alice Adams, residing three blocks from the plant, recounted the moment the blast occurred, describing an intense noise and a power outage, followed by the sight of white smoke and a scent reminiscent of burnt brown sugar.

The blast displaced several residents, who have since received aid from the American Red Cross. Authorities are urging the community to refrain from moving any debris from the area as it could be crucial for the ongoing investigation.