Nineteen missing after huge blast at Tennessee explosives plant, officials say Nineteen people are missing after a huge blast at an explosives plant in Tennessee, officials say
Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis, visibly emotional as he says how may are missing, says there is no short-term explanation as to what happened, and the Bureau of ATF and FBI are “handling the scene”
Aerial video from the scene in Bucksnort, south-west of Nashville, shows charred debris, smouldering vehicles and little remaining of the facility The explosion just before 08:00 local time was heard from miles away including in neighbouring counties
There is a huge emergency response at the scene, with one first responder telling the Associated Press they could not enter the site initially due to continuing detonations
The factory belongs to Accurate Energetic Systems, which specialises in the development, manufacture, handling, and storage of explosives
The facility is around 1,300 acres and has done “around $100m worth of business on federal contracts over the last two decades”, which she explains is “fairly significant”.
Abrams adds that an investigation lead by Hickman County and the neighbouring Humphrey County, which involves the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security, will take place.
