A total of 18 people are missing after a military explosives manufacturing plant in Tennessee exploded on Friday. Police said no survivors have been recovered, and they are still investigating the incident's cause and haven’t ruled out foul play.
Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said there were no survivors, according to the Associated Press.
“At approximately 7:45am this morning, there was a tragic accident at our facility. Emergency response teams and investigative agencies remain on scene, and the situation is under active investigation,” the company that owns the site, Accurate Energetic Systems wrote in a statement.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, coworkers, and community members affected by this incident. We extend our gratitude to all first responders who continue to work tirelessly under difficult conditions,” the statement continued.
Here’s what you need to know about the deadly event:
Explosion felt more than 15 miles away
Residents in the surrounding area could feel the Friday morning blast from more than 15 miles away from the plant, according to Davis. Debris flew half a mile from the plant.
“There’s nothing to describe,” Davis said, when asked to describe what the facility looked like. “The building’s gone.”
Officials said the explosion ignited a series of smaller explosions, CNN reported.
Community mourns
Statements in support of the families who lost a loved one have poured out mourning the loss of community members. Davis said one of his childhood friends died in the blast.
“We are monitoring the ongoing situation in Hickman County & state agencies are responding in partnership with local & federal agencies,” Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) said in a statement on the social media paltform X.
“We ask Tennesseans to join us in prayer for the families impacted by this tragic incident,” he added.
A vigil was held for families at a nearby park on Friday night, AP reported.
“There are three families that’s involved in this that I’m very close to. When you have small counties like this, we know each other … we love each other,” Davis said, according to CNN.
This is not the first deadly explosion
More than a decade ago, another deadly explosion occurred at the facility, WSMV reported. The property was owned by Rio Ammunition at the time.
Accurate Energetic Systems was not connected to the 2014 incident, according to Tennessee officials, as reported by CNN.
However, the company did pay a $7,200 fine in 2019 after an inspection unveiled violations tied to employee exposure to contaminants and inadequate safety training.
Source: The Hill - News
