Authorities have identified the 16 people killed in a devastating explosion at a rural Tennessee explosives plant on 10 October. The blast, which occurred at the Accurate Energetic Systems facility in Bucksnort, was felt more than 20 miles away and left no survivors.
Among the victims was Trent Stewart, pastor of the Log Church in Waverly. The church cancelled Sunday services and held a prayer gathering instead, drawing a packed congregation. Stewart's fiancée, Katy Stover, expressed gratitude for the turnout, saying it honoured him and the other families affected.
Another victim, Reyna Gillahan, had dreamed of paying off her home; her daughter Rosalina launched a fundraiser after the explosion. The tight-knit community has rallied with multiple fundraisers for the families of the deceased.
Sheriffs from Humphreys and Hickman counties read out the names of all 16 victims at a news conference on Monday. The list includes Jason Adams, Billy Baker, Christopher Clark, James Cook, LaTeisha Mays, Melinda Rainey, Steven Wright, Erick Anderson, Adam Boatman, Mindy Clifton, Jeremy Moore, Melissa Stafford, Rachel Woodall, and Donald Yowell.
Investigators are working to clear the area of hazards, including unexploded ordnance, before determining the cause. Matthew Belew of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives described the process as akin to reassembling a puzzle, with evidence scattered over miles. Accurate Energetic Systems, a military explosives supplier, employs 115 people at its 1,300-acre complex.
