Explosion at Tennessee Ammunition Plant Leaves 18 Missing, Feared Dead

An explosion at an ammunition plant in rural Tennessee on Friday left 18 people missing and feared dead after the blast completely destroyed the facility and was felt for miles around.

The blast occurred at Accurate Energetic Systems, located about 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of Nashville. Several fatalities were reported, though officials said late Friday that the exact death toll had yet to be confirmed.

Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis called the incident “one of the most devastating situations of my career,” adding that it would take time to determine the cause. “There’s no brief description for this,” Davis said at a press conference, noting that investigators from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were on the scene.

When asked to describe the building where the explosion occurred, Davis replied, “There’s nothing left to describe. It’s completely gone.”

Aerial footage aired by WTVF television showed flames and thick smoke rising from the debris where the plant once stood. Local media reported that residents heard and felt the explosion from several miles away.

Davis initially said 19 people were unaccounted for, but later WSMV television cited officials saying one of those initially reported missing was found safe at home.

Accurate Energetic Systems did not provide a cause for the explosion but said in a statement, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, colleagues, and community members affected by this tragedy,” thanking first responders for their efforts.

According to the company’s website, Accurate Energetic Systems develops, manufactures, and stores explosives for “military, aerospace, and commercial demolition markets.” The company’s headquarters in Bucksnort, Tennessee, spans 1,300 acres and includes eight production buildings and a quality laboratory.

The firm offered relatively high-paying jobs in the rural region, where employers are required to pay a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. On its Facebook page, AES stated that it was hiring production workers at a starting rate of $19 per hour.

Hickman County Mayor Jim Bates told CNN the plant had no prior record of safety issues, though a smaller explosion occurred there in 2014, killing one person and injuring three others, according to The Tennessean newspaper.