Authorities in Tennessee have confirmed that no survivors are expected to be found following a devastating explosion at a munitions factory in Bucksnort, about 56 miles southwest of Nashville. Eighteen workers remain unaccounted for and are now presumed dead, officials said on Saturday.
Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis described the aftermath as “even more devastating than we thought initially,” as recovery teams continued to search through the debris-strewn site. The blast occurred on Friday at the Accurate Energetic Systems facility, which specializes in developing and manufacturing explosives.
Video footage from the scene showed flames still burning amid twisted metal, charred vehicles, and thick smoke. Debris from the explosion was scattered across a half-mile radius, with the plant building completely destroyed.
More than 300 state and local first responders have been deployed to the scene since Friday morning. By Saturday, the operation had shifted from rescue to recovery, as hopes of finding survivors faded. Sheriff Davis, visibly emotional, said, “The expectation of anyone inside that building… we can assume that they are deceased.”
The FBI is conducting rapid DNA testing to help identify the victims, while the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the cause of the explosion.
Accurate Energetic Systems has since suspended its operations. The company previously experienced a fatal explosion at the same site in 2014.
Residents as far as 15 miles away reported hearing the blast. Local communities remain shaken, with many families affected. “It’s a very close-knit community,” said resident Lucy Garton. “Everyone knows someone who worked there. This will be hard for us all.”
Authorities have pledged full support to the victims’ families as recovery efforts continue through the weekend.
