BUCKSNORT, TENNESSEE — Authorities confirmed Saturday that no survivors have been found in the wreckage of a military explosives plant that was leveled by a massive explosion on Friday, leaving at least 18 workers missing and presumed dead. The search has now shifted to a grim recovery operation, with federal investigators from the ATF's elite National Response Team arriving on site to determine the cause of the blast.
"I can tell you that more than 300 people have been through almost every square inch of this facility, and at this time, we've recovered no survivors," an emotional Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said at a press conference on Saturday. "We find it even more devastating than what we thought initially... We're dealing with remains."
The Explosion
The explosion occurred just before 8 a.m. on Friday, October 10, at the Accurate Energetic Systems facility, a rural plant that manufactures high-grade explosives like C-4 and TNT. The blast was so powerful that it completely destroyed a large building, flung debris across a half-square-mile, and was felt by residents in Waverly, more than 15 miles away.
"There's nothing to describe, it's gone," Sheriff Davis said Friday.
First responders were initially kept at a distance by secondary explosions, delaying search and rescue efforts for hours. While a few workers were treated for minor injuries at nearby hospitals, the focus quickly turned to the large number of employees who were unaccounted for.
A Family's Anguish, A Federal Investigation
As families awaited news, the human toll of the disaster began to emerge. Ava Hinson told local station WZTV that her son, Jeremy Moore, a longtime employee at the plant, is among the missing.
"I did find out it was the building, Building 602, that he worked in and that he was on the missing list," Hinson said. "The not knowing, I almost, I don’t want to hear bad news, but I’d almost feel better if I knew."
Given the scale of the disaster, a massive multi-agency investigation is underway. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has deployed its National Response Team—an elite unit that has investigated incidents like the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon and the Oklahoma City bombing—to lead the investigation into the origin and cause of the explosion. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is also on scene with "rapid DNA" technology to help identify the remains of the victims.
Sheriff Davis said that foul play cannot be ruled out at this early stage and that the investigation will be "slow and methodical," likely taking weeks or months.
Company Statement and a History of Incidents
In a statement on its website, Accurate Energetic Systems called the explosion a "tragic accident." "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, coworkers, and community members affected by this incident," the company wrote.
This is not the first deadly explosion to occur at this location. In 2014, when a unit on the site was being operated by a different company, a blast killed one worker and injured three others.
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