Tennessee Munitions Factory Explosion Leaves Eighteen Missing

Mon Oct 20 2025 20:50:20 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

An explosion at a military explosives manufacturing facility in Tennessee has left eighteen individuals unaccounted for. Emergency services are currently on-site assessing the situation as investigations begin into the cause of the blast.

A devastating explosion at a military explosives factory in Bucksnort, Tennessee, has resulted in eighteen people being reported missing. Local authorities, assisted by federal agencies, are investigating the incident, which occurred during working hours, leading to significant destruction at the facility. While some individuals were hospitalized with minor injuries, the search for those unaccounted continues amidst concerns about additional risks.

Eighteen people are missing after a blast at a military explosives manufacturing facility in Tennessee on Friday.

Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis announced that one person previously believed to be onsite has been located at home. Four to five individuals were reported to have been hospitalized due to injuries sustained in the catastrophic explosion that completely leveled the factory.

There's nothing to describe, it's gone, Sheriff Davis stated during a media briefing.

The Bucksnort facility, located approximately 56 miles (90 km) southwest of Nashville, is specialized in the development, manufacture, handling, and storage of explosives. The precise cause of the explosion remains unclear.

Aerial footage from the site displayed charred debris and smoldering vehicles, with almost nothing left of the facility owned by Accurate Energetic Systems.

During a follow-up briefing, Sheriff Davis communicated that 19 people are currently unaccounted for and emphasized the explosion's magnitude, stating that debris was displaced across a half square mile radius. The impact was significant enough that residents in nearby Waverly reported feeling and hearing the blast.

Davis refrained from speculating whether the explosion was accidental or intentional, stating, we have to make the worst assumption in order to find the truth. The ongoing investigation has enlisted the help of state and federal agencies, including the FBI and ATF.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has noted the situation as a tragic incident while local media reported that the factory employed roughly 75 people, all of whom are now focused on their families in the wake of this disaster.

This incident echoes a prior explosion at the same location back in 2014, which resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries. The recent explosion has triggered an extensive response from local and federal agencies, who are expected to remain on site to ensure safety and conduct a thorough investigation.