Multiple Dead, Over a Dozen Missing After Massive Explosion at Tennessee Bomb Factory
A catastrophic explosion rocked a bomb manufacturing facility in Tennessee early Friday morning, killing multiple individuals and leaving at least 13 others unaccounted for, according to local authorities.
The blast occurred just before 8 a.m. at the Accurate Energetic Systems (AES) plant, located on the Hickman-Humphreys County line, roughly an hour west of Nashville. Officials described it as a “devastating blast” that destroyed an entire building on the factory site.
Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis confirmed to reporters that there were fatalities and that people remain missing but did not provide an exact death toll. “We’re prioritizing the people involved, their families, and trying to be very compassionate toward them,” Davis said during a press briefing.
Hickman County Mayor Jim Bates later told ABC News that at least 13 people were unaccounted for. Odell Poyner, director of the Humphreys County Emergency Management Agency, said 19 employees were inside the affected building at the time of the blast and none have been accounted for yet.
The facility is located in a rural area far from residential neighborhoods or businesses, reducing the risk of broader civilian casualties. Still, the explosion’s impact was felt for miles. A home surveillance system located 21 miles away recorded a thunderous boom that shook the camera and surrounding ground, according to News Channel 5.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has dispatched agents to the scene to assist in the investigation, which is expected to continue for several days. Authorities have urged the public to avoid the area as first responders and investigators secure the site.
Accurate Energetic Systems, which has operated in the region since 1980, specializes in manufacturing explosives and energetic materials used in military, aerospace, and commercial demolition industries. According to its website, AES serves defense contractors and other high-level clients in need of “superior energetic solutions.”
The cause of the explosion remains unknown. Local, state, and federal officials are working together to determine what triggered the deadly incident. Families of the missing employees are being notified and provided support as search and recovery operations continue.