No Survivors Found After Bomb Factory Explosion Levels the Building in Tennessee: ‘Even More Devastating Than We Thought’

A devastating explosion in rural Tennessee leveled an explosives plant.

Sixteen people died due to the blast at Accurate Energetic Systems in Humphreys County on Friday, Oct. 10, per the Associated Press.

“There’s nothing to describe. It’s gone,” Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said of the blast site, according to the outlet.

Aerial footage taken by local outlet WTVF showed the plant’s hilltop location smoking, as debris littered the ground within at least half a mile.

Authorities confirmed on Saturday that there were no survivors.

“This has probably been one of the most devastating situations that I’ve been on in my career,” Davis recounted through tears at a Saturday news conference, per the Washington Post.

Davis shared that about 300 first responders had been searching the widespread rubble in hopes of finding any survivors, per the Post.

“We’ve gone to extremes,” Davis said, sharing that authorities were using cell phone tower data to try to locate devices belonging to the missing people as well as rapid DNA analysis.

The sheriff also added that the search has been complicated by the amount of explosives and ammunition thrown around the accident site.

“We’re finding it even more devastating than we thought initially,” he said.

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Accurate Energetic Systems is a munitions and explosives material company that sits on the border of Hickman and Humphreys counties, located about 60 miles west of Nashville.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, coworkers, and community members affected by this incident. We extend our gratitude to all first responders who continue to work tirelessly under difficult conditions,” the company wrote in a statement. “We will provide updates as more verified information becomes available.”

According to the sheriff, people more than 15 miles away felt the explosion.

“I thought the house had collapsed with me inside of it,” Gentry Stover, a resident of Lobelville, Tenn. — about a 20-minute drive away from the explosion site — told the AP. “I live very close to Accurate and I realized about 30 seconds after I woke up that it had to have been that.”

Davis shared that the cause of the explosion is still under investigation, as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)’s National Response Team as well as the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are searching and conducting research at the scene.

In a statement shared to Facebook, the two counties’ emergency management agencies wrote that small explosions would be taking place in the area periodically to safely dispose of hazardous materials at the site.

“Nearby residents may hear or feel these detonations as they occur. Local officials will provide at least 30 minutes’ notice through their social media channel prior to each controlled explosion,” the statement reads.

According to the sheriff, the investigation could continue for days. He told reporters that there may not be a “short term explanation” as to what happened, per the AP.

According to the AP, a group of friends and family members of the explosion victims gathered at a nearby park for a vigil, holding candles and singing “Amazing Grace” amid prayers for the missing people.

In a post shared to X on Friday, Gov. Bill Lee said he is monitoring the situation.

“We ask Tennesseans to join us in prayer for the families impacted by this tragic incident,” he wrote.