Explosion at Tennessee Munitions Plant Leaves Multiple Dead & Missing

Update: At least 19 people have been reported missing or dead as of midday Friday. Three people so far have received treatment at nearby hospitals for "minor injuries." The explosion is being called a "mass detonation" but the cause remains unknown. Aerial footage shows that one entire building appears to have been leveled by the blast. 

A powerful explosion at a military munitions plant in rural Tennessee has left multiple people dead and others missing, authorities have confirmed.

The blast, which was felt and heard miles away, tore through the Accurate Energetic Systems facility near Bucksnort, about 60 miles southwest of Nashville on Friday, October 10. Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis described the event as a devastating tragedy for the small community. In a press conference held shortly after the explosion, he stated, “We do have several people at this time unaccounted for. We are trying to be mindful of families and that situation. We do have some that are deceased.”

Emergency responders rushed to the scene Friday morning but were forced to keep their distance as a series of secondary explosions continued. Officials said crews were initially unable to enter the site due to ongoing detonations and dangerous conditions.

Massive Blast Felt Miles Away

Aerial footage taken by WTVF-TV showed the aftermath of the explosion. One of the facility’s hilltop buildings appeared to have been obliterated, leaving only smoldering debris and the burnt-out shells of several vehicles. Plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the largely wooded property, which sits off Highway 230 in Humphreys County.

Residents across the region reported hearing a massive boom and feeling their homes shake. One local resident who lives near the facility was awoken by the explosion, which shook his house so much, he “thought the house had collapsed with [him] inside of it.”

People as far as Lobelville, roughly 20 minutes away, said the force of the blast rattled their homes. State Rep. Jody Barrett, who lives about 15 miles from the site, said his family also heard the explosion. “We absolutely heard it at the house,” Barrett said. “It sounded like something going through the roof of our house.”

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency confirmed there were both fatalities and injuries but did not provide numbers, saying the Department of Health has yet to confirm details. TEMA said its district coordinators have been deployed to assist local officials and first responders in managing the incident.

What Is Accurate Energetic Systems?

Accurate Energetic Systems, based in nearby McEwen, manufactures and tests a range of explosives for military and commercial use. The company’s 1,300-acre Bucksnort site includes eight buildings dedicated to research, production, and storage. According to the company’s website, it routinely tests explosives under varying environmental conditions, measuring the velocity and impact of detonations while adhering to strict Department of Defense safety standards.

Public records show that Accurate Energetic Systems holds multiple contracts with the U.S. military—primarily the Army and Navy—to produce a variety of munitions, including bulk explosives, landmines, and breaching charges designed for tactical operations. The facility also serves customers in aerospace, oil, and commercial demolition industries.

The company says it can safely accommodate explosives with up to 35 pounds of net explosive weight and conducts daily testing as part of its quality and safety processes.

Search Continues for Those Missing & Unaccounted For

McEwen Mayor Brad Rachford described the incident as a heartbreaking loss. “This is a tragedy for our community,” he said in a statement.

The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. Officials have not said how many people were inside the facility when the blast occurred, and search efforts for the missing are ongoing. Sheriff Davis cautioned that it may take days to determine what triggered the explosion and to fully assess the damage.

Second Explosion in Less Than 12 Years

The October 10^th explosion marks the second deadly blast at this facility in just over a decade. In April 2014, a massive blast caused extensive damage to a building that housed shotgun ammunition and caused two fires. One man died and four others sustained injuries. Though the property was and remains owned by Accurate Energetic Systems, the area where the explosion occurred in 2014 was operated by Rio Ammunition at the time.