A massive explosion ripped through the Accurate Energetic Systems explosives plant early Friday morning, leaving 19 people unaccounted for and multiple suspected deaths, officials confirmed.

The blast occurred at approximately 7:45 a.m. local time (1245 GMT), at the facility located about 50 miles (80 km) west of Nashville, near the border of Hickman and Humphreys counties.

Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis described the scene as catastrophic. “There’s nothing to describe. It’s gone,” he said of the destroyed building.

Davis confirmed multiple fatalities but said it remains too early to establish an exact toll, noting that some survivors may still be possible.

Initial responders were delayed entry to the blast site because of continuing smaller detonations.

Federal agencies — including the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) — have deployed investigators to the scene.

Aerial footage showed a smoldering footprint where a building once stood, and debris and ashes littered a parking lot.

Vehicles in adjacent lots were scorched or damaged.

Local residents reported feeling their homes shake miles away. One homeowner said he initially thought his house had collapsed.

By Friday afternoon, the site was reported under control and no further large explosions were expected.

Accurate Energetic Systems, located on a 1,300-acre campus in Bucksnort / McEwen, manufactures and stores explosives for military, aerospace, and commercial demolition use.

The facility houses multiple production buildings and a quality lab.

Though the plant has not been known for serious safety issues, it has experienced one prior explosion in April 2014, which resulted in one death and three injuries.

Records show that in 2019 the company was cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for three violations, including one characterized as “serious.”

Authorities caution that it will take days, perhaps longer, to fully assess the damage, recover remains, and determine the cause.

The investigation is expected to examine whether safety protocols were followed and whether regulations were violated.

Local officials also warn of secondary explosions and urged residents to stay clear of the area.

This devastating blast marks one of the worst industrial accidents in recent years in the region, and has sent shockwaves through the community — both figuratively and literally. (ILKHA)