16 Dead After Massive Tennessee Plant Explosion

Authorities in Humphreys County, Tennessee, say that 16 people are believed to have died following a catastrophic explosion Friday morning at an ammunition and explosives facility near McEwen. The blast destroyed one of the buildings at Accurate Energetic Systems, a privately owned company that produces military-grade explosives.

Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said during a Saturday evening press conference that rescue teams have not found any survivors among the debris. “At this time, I can tell you that we have not located any survivors,” Davis said. “And we are making the assumption that all are deceased.”

The explosion occurred around 7:45 a.m. Friday and could be felt for miles. Satellite images show that the building at the center of the blast was completely leveled, with only scattered debris left behind. Initially, officials believed that 18 employees were missing, but two were later confirmed not to have been at the facility at the time.

“As of right now we have contacted all 16, and we’ll call them victims, our loved ones, families that we feel was part of this tragedy,” Davis said. “It saddens me. I’m very thankful that we have located the other two.”

Over 300 first responders and investigators have been on site, carefully sifting through the wreckage. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are leading the investigation into what caused the blast, alongside local emergency agencies.

Special Agent Guy McCormick of the ATF said teams of certified explosives specialists and bomb technicians were working to stabilize the site. “In a situation like this, what we find is that when these explosives are subject to the event that took place — which is heat, the explosion being thrown, pressure — they can change, and they can become different than how we know them to act,” McCormick explained.

Officials say the investigation is ongoing, and contained detonations will continue at the site over the coming days to safely dispose of unstable or hazardous materials. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) confirmed that there is no ongoing threat to the public but asked residents to avoid the area to allow emergency workers to operate “safely and efficiently.”

Residents in nearby towns reported feeling the explosion from miles away. Felicity Howell, a nurse at Hickman County Middle School, told local news outlets that she was in her kitchen when the blast occurred. “There was a huge boom and my house shook very, like, hard,” she said. “It honestly felt like a vehicle drove through our house. That’s what I thought whenever it happened. But then we found out it was the explosion that was about 10 miles down the road.”

In Centerville, about 20 miles away, community members gathered for a candlelight vigil Friday evening to pray for the victims and their families. “It’s devastating,” one attendee told reporters. “This is a small community. Everybody knows somebody who worked there.”

Accurate Energetic Systems issued a brief statement expressing condolences to the families and employees affected by the explosion. “Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone impacted by this tragedy,” the company said, adding that it had set up a family assistance center to offer support and information to those awaiting news of loved ones.

According to TEMA, residents who find debris that may have originated from the blast should contact their local sheriff’s office. Trained personnel will collect and dispose of any material to ensure safety.

Founded in the 1990s, Accurate Energetic Systems manufactures military-grade explosives, propellants, and demolition charges for both government and private clients. The facility has previously handled sensitive materials used in defense applications, making investigations particularly challenging for local authorities.

Sheriff Davis said that while the community is shaken, the response has been unified and compassionate. “This is one of the hardest days we’ve ever had here,” he said. “The amount of love and support coming in from other agencies and from around the state has been overwhelming.”

Officials have not released the names of the 16 people believed to have been killed, pending notification of next of kin.

The investigation is expected to continue for several weeks as state and federal agencies work to determine what caused the deadly explosion and whether any safety protocols were violated.