New details have surfaced about the explosion that struck an explosives factory in Tennessee on Friday, October 10, leaving 19 people missing and causing extensive material damage.
The incident occurred early Friday morning at the Accurate Energetic Systems facility — a company specializing in the production and storage of explosives — near the town of Bucksnort, southwest of Nashville.
Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis, in an emotional statement, confirmed that 19 people remain unaccounted for, while the cause of the explosion is still under investigation.
Aerial footage shows charred debris, vehicles engulfed in smoke, and virtually nothing left of the industrial site. The blast, which occurred just before 8:00 a.m. local time, was felt across several neighboring counties. Emergency crews were initially unable to enter the site due to ongoing secondary explosions.
According to WPLN News, the facility spans about 1,300 acres and has executed over $100 million in federal contracts over the past two decades.
Journalist Cynthia Abrams described the explosion as “massive,” citing witnesses who said the shockwave was felt up to 43 kilometers away.
Dr. Chris Shepherd of the University of Kentucky noted that incidents involving explosives typically occur during the handling of raw materials, not the final products. He explained that stabilized compounds like TNT or nitrocellulose are generally safe for long-term storage, but in their unprocessed form, they remain highly volatile.
According to the BBC, four to five people were hospitalized following the blast. Three others arrived independently at TriStar Health Hospital in Dickson — two were discharged, while one remains under treatment for minor injuries. Additional patients have reportedly been treated at other regional hospitals.
The investigation is being jointly led by county authorities in Hickman and Humphreys, alongside ATF, FBI, Homeland Security, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
This is not the first such incident at the site. In 2014, a fatal explosion at a nearby facility operated by Rio Ammunition killed one worker and injured three others.
Sheriff Davis described the current scene as “one of the most devastating” he has ever witnessed:
“There’s nothing left to describe — it’s gone,” he said.
Authorities have stated that the investigation may take several days, with another official update expected later today.
