"Devastating blast" rips through Tennessee explosives plant; 18 people missing and feared dead

19 missing after deadly explosion in Tennessee

19 people are missing and feared dead after a deadly explosion at a military munitions plant near Bucksnort, Tennessee. The sheriff said it was one of the most devastating scenes he’s ever seen, referring to the 19 missing as “souls."

BUCKSNORT, Tenn. - Crews in rural Tennessee are searching for victims after a large explosion at a munitions-manufacturing plant Friday morning.

The blast leveled the explosives plant Friday, leaving behind a mass of twisted metal, burned-out shells of cars and at least 18 people missing and feared dead, authorities said.

What we know:

The explosion happened around 7:45 a.m. local time at Accurate Energetic Systems in Bucksnort, Tennessee, an unincorporated community about 60 miles southwest of Nashville.

Aerial footage showed the company's hilltop location smoldering and smoky. Debris was scattered over at least a half mile area and people more than 15 miles away felt the explosion.

The local sheriff described a "devastating blast," the force of which sent plumes of smoke into the air and shook homes miles away.

What they're saying:

"There’s nothing to describe. It’s gone," Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said of the blast site at Accurate Energetic Systems, which supplies and researches explosives for the military. He said it was one of the worst scenes he’s ever seen and especially gut wrenching because he knows three families connected to the tragedy.

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Emergency crews were initially unable to enter the plant because of continuing detonations. 

By Friday afternoon, there was no further danger of explosions, and the scene was under control, according to Grey Collier, a spokesperson for the Humphreys County Emergency Management Agency.

What we don't know:

Davis said it was one of the most devastating scenes he’s ever seen. He did not specify how many people were killed but referred to the 18 missing as "souls" and said officials were still speaking to family.

Officials had originally said 19 people were missing, but Humphreys County Emergency Management Agency updated that number Friday night after they said one person believed to be on site was found safe at home.

It's not immediately known how many people worked at the plant or how many were there when the explosion happened.

The cause of the blast is unknown, and the sheriff said the investigation could take days. Multiple agencies from the local, state, and federal levels responded to the scene.

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What they're saying:

"We are missing 19 souls," said Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said earlier Friday at a news conference.  "There’s nothing to describe. It’s gone. It’s the most devastating scene that I’ve seen in my career."

Blast at Tennessee explosives plant prompts emergency response

An explosion at Accurate Energetic Systems in Bucksnort, about an hour west of Nashville, prompted a large-scale emergency response Friday. Authorities are urging the public to avoid the area and follow instructions from emergency responders. The Hickman County Sheriff?s Office also asked residents not to post information about missing personnel or the status of those involved.

"I thought the house had collapsed with me inside of it," neighbor Gentry Stover told The Associated Press by phone. "I live very close to Accurate and I realized about 30 seconds after I woke up that it had to have been that."

"We live probably 15 miles as the crow flies and we absolutely heard it at the house," State Rep. Jody Barrett said. "It sounded like something going through the roof of our house."

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What is Accurate Energetic Systems?

Dig deeper:

Public records show that Accurate Energetic Systems sold numerous types of weapons to the U.S. military, including dynamite, landmines and explosive powder for large-caliber shells.

The manufacturing plant sits on 1,300 acres. There are eight buildings on the site that manufacture, store and research explosives for "military, aerospace, and commercial demolition" markets.

WTVF via FOX

Helicopter footage showed that at least one of those buildings appeared to be completely leveled by the explosion, with burning debris strewn amidst damaged vehicles.