McEWEN, Tenn. (AP) — A powerful blast ripped through a military explosives manufacturing plant in rural Tennessee on Friday morning, rattling homes miles away and prompting emergency responders to rush to the scene, as confirmed by authorities and local residents.
The explosion took place at Accurate Energetic Systems located near the town of Bucksnort, approximately 60 miles southwest of Nashville, reported the Hickman County Sheriff’s Office. In a post on social media, the agency urged people to stay clear of the area to facilitate rescue operations.
While emergency responders were on-site, they encountered ongoing explosions, which impeded their ability to approach the area initially. Hickman County Advanced EMT David Stewart conveyed to the Associated Press that they had yet to receive any information related to possible injuries.
The Accurate Energetic Systems facility did not respond to inquiries made Friday morning regarding the incident.
Footage from the explosion revealed a burning debris field, with thick clouds of smoke rising dramatically into the sky. Nashville's WTVF-TV shared visuals of debris scattered across the site, highlighting damaged vehicles left in a nearby parking lot. Witnesses reported feeling the force of the explosion from as far as Lobelville, more than a 20-minute drive from the plant, contributing to a sudden awakening for many residents.
Gentry Stover, a local resident, shared his experience, stating: “I thought the house had collapsed with me inside of it,” explaining he realized shortly after waking that the explosion was the cause. Many homeowners caught the impressive boom of the explosion on their indoor security cameras.
