Nineteen people are missing and feared dead following a massive explosion at a military munitions plant in rural Tennessee. The blast occurred on Friday morning at Accurate Energetic Systems near the town of Bucksnort, about 60 miles south-west of Nashville.
Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis described the scene as 'devastating' and confirmed fatalities, though exact numbers were not immediately released. 'There's nothing to describe. It's gone,' Davis said at a news conference, adding that it was 'one of the most devastating situations I've been on in my career.'
Further explosions initially kept rescuers at a distance, but later first responders and explosives experts gained access to search the rubble for casualties and determine the cause. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said the state health department had not yet confirmed casualty numbers.
Davis urged residents to report any unfamiliar debris on their properties, as it could aid the investigation. Accurate Energetic Systems, which manufactures and tests explosives, did not respond to requests for comment. McEwen Mayor Brad Rachford called the incident 'a tragedy for our community.'
Residents reported feeling the explosion from miles away, with some capturing the loud boom on home cameras. One resident said, 'I thought the house had collapsed with me inside of it.' Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said state agencies are responding in partnership with local and federal authorities.
