A catastrophic explosion at a military-grade explosives plant in rural Tennessee has left at least 19 people missing and feared dead.
The blast tore through Accurate Energetic Systems (AES), an ammunition factory west of Nashville, just before 8:00AM Friday, per the New York Post.
The explosion was so powerful it leveled an entire building, shook homes over a dozen miles away, and even registered on weather radar, authorities confirmed.
“There’s nothing to describe. It’s gone,” said Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis. “It’s the most devastating scene that I’ve seen in my career.”
The moment of impact
The explosion struck at approximately 7:45AM local time in the Melt Pour building of the AES plant, where explosives are liquified and poured into canisters. According to employees, those canisters are typically boxed, stacked on pallets, and loaded onto trucks.
The plant is known for producing explosives used by the U.S. military - including TNT, HMX, PETN, and RDX - substances requiring highly controlled handling due to their volatility.
Security footage from a home 21 miles away captured a massive “boom” that not only shook the ground but also the camera, reported News Channel 5. The shockwave was felt as far as an hour’s drive from the site.
“There was about half a square mile of damage from the explosion,” Sheriff Davis said during a news briefing.
Workers unaccounted for as investigation begins
At the time of the explosion, 19 workers were inside the Melt Pour building. None have been located since, according to Humphreys County EMA Director Odell Poyner. Sheriff Davis referred to them as “souls” during his emotional address to the press, per the New York Times.
“Anytime you have a situation like this, there’s grief involved,” Davis said. He added later: “You want me to be honest? It’s hell. It’s hell on us. It’s hell on everybody involved.”
Although emergency responders were initially kept out due to continued detonations at the site, the area was eventually secured by Friday afternoon. Three individuals were treated for minor injuries at TriStar medical centers in nearby Dickson.
Two were released the same day; one remained under care Friday evening.
Officials have not confirmed an exact death toll and are still notifying families. “We’re trying to take as much time as is needed right now. We’re prioritizing people that are involved, their families and trying to be very compassionate toward them,” Davis said.
“A leader in energetics”: Inside the plant that exploded
Founded in 1980, Accurate Energetic Systems describes itself as “a leader in the energetics and explosives industry,” with clients ranging from military acquisition offices to demolition firms.
The company’s sprawling 1,300-acre campus includes five production buildings and a lab, with around 75 employees on site.
AES manufactures and tests various explosives such as TNT booster charges - often encased in bright green cylinders - which are commonly used in military and commercial blasting operations.
Following the explosion, aerial footage showed the scorched remains of the building and surrounding vehicles. Numerous small fires continued to burn among the rubble, with green canisters visible on the ground.
Emergency crews are expected to remain on site for several days, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), along with the FBI, has launched an investigation. Sheriff Davis warned it may take “many days” to determine what caused the blast.
Despite the dangerous materials stored at the facility, Davis confirmed that “residents near the site of the blast did not need to take any further precautions.”
Grief and shock ripple through the tight-knit community
The explosion has rattled the nearby communities of Bucksnort, McEwen, and other small towns nestled in the Tennessee countryside. The region is known for its winding dirt roads, hunting grounds, and the annual National Banana Pudding Festival.
Local trout farm owner Steven Anderson described the area’s sparse landmarks: “There are only three points of interest in town — the trout farm, the munitions plant and a gas station with a convenience store,” where plant workers often had lunch.
Law enforcement officers responding to the explosion have been particularly shaken, as many personally knew some of the families affected. “The situation is ‘hell,’” Davis said again, underscoring the raw emotion gripping first responders and locals alike.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee also issued a statement asking residents to keep the victims and their loved ones in their thoughts: “Join us in prayer for the families impacted by this tragic incident.”