A massive explosion at an explosives processing plant in rural Tennessee on Friday has left 19 people missing and feared dead, authorities said. The blast at Accurate Energetic Systems ’ facility flattened a building on the company's 1,300-acre campus and shook homes miles away.
Rescue teams had to keep their distance for hours due to burning debris and the risk of secondary explosions. Black smoke could be seen billowing from the site in aerial footage captured by local news station WTVF-TV.
"There's nothing to describe. It's gone," said an emotional Chris Davis, Humphreys County Sheriff. While officials confirmed multiple fatalities, they did not provide an exact count and referred to the missing as "souls." Families of those affected gathered near the plant, awaiting updates.
The blast also caused nearby homes to shake and prompting emergency services to respond, according to officials and local residents.
The incident took place at Accurate Energetic Systems near Bucksnort, located approximately 60 miles (97 kilometers) southwest of Nashville, as reported by the Hickman County Sheriff's Office Officials used social media to request the public stay away from the area to enable emergency teams to operate effectively.
The casualties were confirmed by the county sheriff, as quoted by Associated Press.
David Stewart, a Hickman County Advanced EMT , informed The Associated Press via telephone that ongoing explosions prevented emergency teams from accessing the site. He was unable to confirm if there were any casualties.
At the scene, footage revealed a field of burning debris with smoke rising skyward. Nashville's WTVF-TV broadcast showed scattered debris across the location and damaged vehicles in a car park. The station received numerous calls from local residents who felt the significant blast.
In Lobelville, situated more than a 20-minute journey from the facility, inhabitants reported their houses shaking, with several residents capturing the explosive sound on their home surveillance systems.
“This is a tragedy for our community,” McEwen Mayor Brad Rachford said in an email, cited by AP, referring further comment to a county official.
People in Lobelville, about a 20-minute drive from the facility, reported that their homes shook, with some capturing the loud boom on home security cameras.
Rescue teams had to keep their distance for hours due to burning debris and the risk of secondary explosions. Black smoke could be seen billowing from the site in aerial footage captured by local news station WTVF-TV.
"There's nothing to describe. It's gone," said an emotional Chris Davis, Humphreys County Sheriff. While officials confirmed multiple fatalities, they did not provide an exact count and referred to the missing as "souls." Families of those affected gathered near the plant, awaiting updates.
The blast also caused nearby homes to shake and prompting emergency services to respond, according to officials and local residents.
The incident took place at Accurate Energetic Systems near Bucksnort, located approximately 60 miles (97 kilometers) southwest of Nashville, as reported by the Hickman County Sheriff's Office Officials used social media to request the public stay away from the area to enable emergency teams to operate effectively.
On Friday, October 10, an explosion was reported at a Tennessee explosives manufacturer in Hickman County.
— NewsChannel 5 (@NC5) October 10, 2025
The explosion took place at the Accurate Energetic Systems in the Bucksnort area. pic.twitter.com/B7MA2VJgyR
The casualties were confirmed by the county sheriff, as quoted by Associated Press.
David Stewart, a Hickman County Advanced EMT , informed The Associated Press via telephone that ongoing explosions prevented emergency teams from accessing the site. He was unable to confirm if there were any casualties.
At the scene, footage revealed a field of burning debris with smoke rising skyward. Nashville's WTVF-TV broadcast showed scattered debris across the location and damaged vehicles in a car park. The station received numerous calls from local residents who felt the significant blast.
In Lobelville, situated more than a 20-minute journey from the facility, inhabitants reported their houses shaking, with several residents capturing the explosive sound on their home surveillance systems.
“This is a tragedy for our community,” McEwen Mayor Brad Rachford said in an email, cited by AP, referring further comment to a county official.
People in Lobelville, about a 20-minute drive from the facility, reported that their homes shook, with some capturing the loud boom on home security cameras.
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