On Friday, a massive explosion at a military explosives manufacturing facility in Bucksnort, Tennessee, has left eighteen people missing. The explosion occurred at a facility specialized in the development and storage of explosives, located approximately 56 miles southwest of Nashville.
Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis confirmed that while one individual initially thought to be at the site was located at home, four to five others had to be treated for injuries at nearby hospitals following the blast. There’s nothing to describe, it’s gone, said Davis, as he assessed the devastation.
Aerial footage revealed extensive damage, with charred debris and smoldering vehicles littered across the site. Emergency responders faced further danger from secondary blasts as they arrived to help, limiting their proximity to the scene of the incident.
During a press briefing, Sheriff Davis noted that the factory was operational at the time of the explosion, indicating that many employees who had just started their shifts could now be counted among the missing. We’re missing 19 souls, he poignantly stated.
The explosion created a shockwave felt as far as 15.5 miles away in Waverly, prompting a response from state and federal authorities including the FBI and the ATF. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee expressed his office’s concern for the situation, describing it as a tragic incident. A thorough investigation is underway as officers continue to secure the site.
The Accurate Energetics Systems facility, which employed around 75 individuals and operated on about 1,300 acres, has since ceased operations. Despite the ongoing inquiry, the cause of the explosion remains unclear.
Prior to this incident, the location had experienced an explosion in 2014 when operated by another company, resulting in injuries and one fatality. Experts have noted that while factory explosions do occur globally, this type of manufacturing remains tightly regulated to ensure safety.
