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Multiple people are dead and at least 12 are unaccounted for after a “massive” blast rocked a military explosives plant in Tennessee on Friday, officials said.
The explosion, which people reported feeling miles away, happened at Accurate Energetic Systems near Bucksnort just before 8 a.m. Friday.
Nineteen employees were inside the building, Humphreys County EMA Director Odell Poyner told WKRN.
Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said at a news conference that multiple people are dead and several people are still unaccounted for.
“We are trying to be mindful of families and that situation,” Davis said. “We can confirm that we do have some that are deceased.”
Emergency crews were initially unable to enter the plant because of continuing detonations, Hickman County Advanced EMT David Stewart said. The cause of the explosion was not immediately known. Sheriff Davis said the investigation could take days.
A statement released by Humphreys County urged people to avoid the area.
“Emergency personnel are on scene and actively managing the situation. Please avoid the area to allow responders to work safely and efficiently,” the statement read. “We appreciate your patience and cooperation — and we ask that you keep everyone involved in your prayers.”
Exclusive: Woman hears blast 50 miles away
Melody Roberts, 74, who live in Franklin, Tennessee, “at least 50 miles away” from the plant, told The Independent’s Justin Rohrlich that she heard the explosion
“I was sitting on my sun porch having a cup of coffee, it was about a quarter to 8,” Roberts said.
“I was out there and it sounded like a bad wreck up on the main road – I live just off the main road – and I thought, ‘Oh my God, somebody must have hit something up there.’ I mean, it shook my house. I kept waiting for sirens, but I didn’t hear anything, and it was probably 40 minutes later that I heard about the explosion. There’s nothing left. It’s gone. It’s just gone.”
Andrea Cavallier10 October 2025 19:01
Investigation likely to take several days, sheriff says
“We got a very big investigation,” Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said during a press briefing.
“This is not going to be something that we’re going to be like a car wreck or something like that, that we’re just going to clean up the debris and leave. We’re going to probably be here for a few days.”
Andrea Cavallier10 October 2025 18:53
Video: Wreckage of Tennessee plant after blastWreckage of Tennessee factory seen from the air after blast rips apart explosives plant
Andrea Cavallier10 October 2025 18:18
Andrea Cavallier10 October 2025 18:13
Residents feel blast from miles away
Residents in Lobelville, which is about a 20-minute drive from the scene of the explosion, said they felt their homes shake, the Associated Press reported.
The blast rattled Gentry Stover from his sleep.
“I thought the house had collapsed with me inside of it,” he said by phone. “I live very close to Accurate and I realized about 30 seconds after I woke up that it had to have been that.”
State Rep. Jody Barrett, a Republican from the neighboring town Dickson, was worried about the possible economic impact because the plant is a key employer in the area.
“We live probably 15 miles as the crow flies and we absolutely heard it at the house,” Barrett said. “It sounded like something going through the roof of our house.”
Andrea Cavallier10 October 2025 18:11
‘Multiple people’ dead after explosion at Tennessee plant
Multiple people are dead and more are missing following a blast at an explosives manufacturing plant in Tennessee, law enforcement officials have said.
At least 19 were initially reported missing and multiple others were hospitalized, according to Humphrey County Emergency Management officials.
Andrea Cavallier10 October 2025 18:01
Photos: Massive blast at military explosives company
TENNESSEE EXPLOSION (AP)
(AP)
(AP)
(AP)
Andrea Cavallier10 October 2025 17:59
What is Accurate Energetic Systems?
Accurate Energetic Systems, which is located about an hour southwest of Nashville, Tennessee, was founded in 1980, and is “dedicated to the development, manufacture, handling, and storage of high-quality energetic products utilized in both defense and commercial markets.”
The company specializes in making military explosives, according to the Humphreys County Sheriff’s Office.
Andrea Cavallier10 October 2025 17:56
Andrea Cavallier10 October 2025 17:52
Multiple people are dead in explosion, officials say
The blast happened at Accurate Energetic Systems near Bucksnort just before 8 a.m. Friday morning.
“We do have some folks, we can confirm that we do have some that are deceased,” Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said at a news conference on Friday.
Follow along for more updates.
Andrea Cavallier10 October 2025 17:46