More than a dozen people are missing and many are feared dead after a deadly explosion at a munitions factory in Tennessee.
The facility near Bucksnort in Hickman County, about 60 miles west of Nashville, burst into flames on Friday morning.
Chris Davis, Humphreys County sheriff, told journalists: “This is the most devastating incident I have been on in my career.”
After the initial explosion at the Accurate Energetic Systems factory at around 8am local time (2pm BST), the fire set off secondary blasts, delaying attempts by emergency workers to rescue survivors.
The blast could be heard up to 20 miles from the plant and debris fell into the garden of a home four miles away. It is unclear what caused the incident.
Authorities urged the public to stay away from the site as the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI rushed to the scene.
🚨#BREAKING: At least 19 people are missing after an explosion at a Tennessee bomb factory.
— Matt Van Swol (@matt_vanswol) October 10, 2025
All nineteen employees were inside the building at the time, and all of them remain unaccounted for.
Please pray for the families of these workers. pic.twitter.com/8fn6cL3m6v
Meanwhile, the local electricity provider Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative said is currently working to restore power to the area following reports of blackouts.
Founded in the 1980s, AES manufactures products serving the defence, aerospace, demolition, and oil and gas industries.
It currently holds contracts worth $140 million (£105 million) with the United States government.
Sheriff Davis added: “We do have several people at this time unaccounted for. We are trying to be mindful of families and that situation. We do have some that are deceased.”
Brad Rachford, mayor of nearby McEwen, commented: “This is a tragedy for our community.”
There was an explosion at the Rio Ammunition facility in the same location in 2014.
