Tragedy struck a munitions factory in Bucksnort, Tennessee, on Friday, with officials now bracing for the worst as recovery teams search the site of a massive explosion. It is feared that all 18 individuals unaccounted for have perished in the blast.
Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis expressed the grim reality at a news conference on Saturday, stating that recovery teams anticipate finding no survivors. “As we get into this, we find it even more devastating than we thought initially,” Sheriff Davis commented.
The cause of the explosion at the Accurate Energetic Systems plant, which specializes in the development, manufacture, handling, and storage of explosives, remains unknown. The incident left a scene of devastation, with debris scattered over a half-mile radius and fires continuing to burn on Friday.
Accurate Energetic Systems has suspended all operations following the incident. This is not the first tragedy at the site; a fatal explosion occurred at a unit in the same location back in 2014.