HUMPHREYS COUNTY, Tenn. (BN24) — A powerful explosion tore through a Tennessee explosives manufacturing facility on Friday morning, leaving at least 19 people missing and prompting a massive emergency response across the region.
The blast struck Accurate Energetic Systems, an explosives manufacturer located near McEwen in Humphreys County, around 7:45 a.m. CDT. Sheriff Chris Davis described the explosion as “devastating,” saying it obliterated the building and created the most catastrophic scene he had witnessed in his career.
“Can I describe the building? There’s nothing to describe,” Davis said, visibly emotional during an afternoon news briefing. “It’s gone. It’s, again, the most devastating scene that I’ve seen in my career.”
Authorities are currently searching for 19 people who remain unaccounted for, some of whom are feared dead. “I can tell you that we’re missing 19 souls,” Davis said. He noted that it could take days or even a week to thoroughly sift through the wreckage.
Earlier in the day, officials confirmed that several individuals had died, though the exact number of fatalities has not yet been released. Emergency crews from multiple counties responded to the blast, which shook the Bucksnort area about 60 miles southwest of Nashville.
“We can confirm there has been an explosion at Accurate Energetic Systems in the Bucksnort area,” the Hickman County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “Emergency services are currently on the scene working to address the situation. Important: Please avoid the area to allow emergency responders to do their work. If you are in the area, stay clear and follow the instructions from local authorities.”
Founded in 1980, Accurate Energetic Systems produces, handles, and stores high-quality energetic materials used in both defense and commercial industries. The cause of Friday’s deadly explosion has not yet been determined.
Authorities have urged residents to stay away from the area while search and recovery operations continue.
