'I heard it and felt it': Chemical facility explosion leaves 11 hospitalized in Louisville

Massive blast rocks Louisville as chemical plant explodes

Eleven people were taken to hospital, two critically injured

A massive explosion at a chemical facility in Louisville, Kentucky, has left 11 people hospitalized, two of them in critical condition.

The blast occurred at the Arkema chemical plant in the city's Rubbertown neighborhood just before 4 a.m. local time on Thursday, June 14. The explosion was so powerful that it shook buildings and shattered windows in the surrounding area.

Eleven people were taken to hospital, two of them in critical condition. The other nine people have since been released from hospital.

What caused the explosion?

The cause of the explosion is still under investigation, but Arkema said in a statement that it believes the blast was caused by a fire that started in a storage tank containing organic peroxides.

Organic peroxides are highly reactive chemicals that are used in a variety of industrial processes, including the production of plastics and pharmaceuticals.

Arkema said that the fire was contained to the storage tank and that there was no risk of further explosions.

Residents urged to stay indoors

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer has urged residents in the Rubbertown neighborhood to stay indoors and keep their windows and doors closed.

The mayor said that the city is working with Arkema to monitor the situation and to ensure the safety of the public.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is also monitoring the air quality in the area and has not detected any harmful levels of chemicals.

Previous incidents at Arkema

This is not the first time that there has been an incident at the Arkema chemical plant in Louisville.

In 2019, a fire broke out at the plant, causing extensive damage but no injuries.

In 2017, a chemical leak at the plant forced the evacuation of nearby residents.