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Louisville factory explosion causes damage to nearby homes, businesses

The incident was reported at the Givaudan Sense Colour manufacturing plant.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Kentucky factory explosion was so massive that it destroyed the windows and doors of several homes and businesses in the vicinity on Tuesday.

One business, Beckman Fitness, boarded up its windows that were blown out from the plant explosion less than a mile away.

Windows were also destroyed at a Clifton liquor store, as well as Quills, Clifton Baptist Church and Guestroom Records. 

Guestroom Records did close for the day, and left a box of masks outside for anyone to grab.

RELATED: PHOTOS: Louisville factory destroyed after massive explosion

One landlord also described how the windows were blown in on her property, and the tenant saw things falling off the wall. 

"She called me right after it happened," Kim Hart said. "She actually showed me on FaceTime the building, and it was just covered in smoke."

Quill's Coffee off Frankfort Avenue had its front window shattered. A coffee shop employee told WHAS11 News customers were inside the shop at the time of the explosion, but none were close by the front window and didn't receive any injuries. The damage will take thousands of dollars to repair.

Just down the road on Pope Street, shattered glass from broken windows lined the floor of a home that had been there for decades.

Nathan Rush is buying the property; him and his realtor were just outside the house when they heard the explosion.

"I've never heard a bomb, but I gotta imagine it would be a lot like that, and the echo -- everyone heard it," he said, "It was a sound wave that put pressure on your body."

Two people are dead and several have been hospitalized following the explosion at a factory in Louisville’s Clifton neighborhood.

The incident was reported at the Givaudan Sense Colour manufacturing plant in the 1900 block of Payne Street around 3 p.m. Tuesday. The plant is known for producing caramel color in soft drinks.

Everyone employed at the facility had been accounted for, including two people who had to be rescued from the building by the Louisville Fire Department.

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