Eighteen people are missing after a blast at a military explosives manufacturing facility in Tennessee on Friday.
Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis stated that one person initially believed to be on site had been located at home, and several others were hospitalized following the enormous explosion that completely destroyed the factory.
There's nothing to describe, it's gone, he expressed.
The plant in Bucksnort, roughly 56 miles southwest of Nashville, specializes in the development, manufacture, handling, and storage of military-grade explosives. The cause of the explosion remains uncertain.
Aerial footage of the area shows charred debris and smouldering vehicles; virtually nothing is left of the facility owned by Accurate Energetic Systems.
During a press conference, Sheriff Davis appeared emotional as he reported the number of missing individuals had risen to nineteen. He emphasized, We’re missing 19 souls, underlining the impact of the tragedy.
The massive explosion was powerful enough to be felt in nearby towns, prompting an extensive response from local and federal authorities, including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Governor Bill Lee expressed his condolences on social media, labeling the incident as tragic and confirming that state and federal agencies are collaborating in response to the event.
As investigations continue, Sheriff Davis noted that the area remains secured while multiple teams work to discover what led to this catastrophic incident, as a second blast at a similar facility in 2014 had previously resulted in casualties.
