A devastating explosion at an explosives factory in Tennessee has brought search efforts to a somber close. Authorities now believe all 16 missing workers have died. The incident has left a deep scar on the local community. The sheer force of the blast was felt up to 25 kilometers away.
Chris Davis, an official from Humphreys County, Tennessee, confirmed the grim news. He stated there is no longer any hope of finding survivors from the blast site in Bucksnot. All 16 people unaccounted for inside the building are now presumed dead. Initially, officials worried about 18 casualties. However, two individuals believed to be there were later found safe elsewhere.
“Anyone who was inside that building, we can assume they are deceased,” Davis told reporters. He added, “When we got a closer look, it was worse than we first thought.” The scene was one of total destruction.
The facility belongs to Accurate Energetic Systems (AES). This company focuses on making and developing explosives. All its operations have now stopped. Videos from Friday showed fires still burning among the wreckage. Charred cars and thick smoke rose from what used to be a building.
Officials reported debris scattered as far as 800 meters from the explosion’s center. More than 300 rescue workers and officials from state and local agencies started searching early Friday morning. By Saturday morning, their mission shifted from rescue to recovery.
The cause of this powerful explosion remains a mystery. The plant is about 90 kilometers southwest of Nashville. The FBI has stepped in to help identify the victims quickly using DNA. This will allow families to be informed. The ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) is also part of the investigation.
This specific site has a history of serious incidents. A powerful explosion happened there in 2014. That blast, too, shook the ground for up to 25 kilometers around.
Nearby residents described the blast’s incredible power. Justin Stover, whose property borders the AES plant, felt his house shake violently. Items fell from his walls and shelves. He first thought a plane had crashed. Stover likened the sound to “the loudest thunder you’ve ever heard in your life.”
Even people 25 kilometers away reported hearing the explosion clearly. Stover, a 20-year resident of Bucksnot, noted that AES was a major employer in the small community. This tragedy will have a lasting and significant impact on everyone there.
Source: BBC