Sixteen people missing after a massive explosion at a munitions factory in Tennessee are now presumed dead, authorities said on Saturday.
Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis announced that recovery teams had been holding out hope of finding survivors, but as of Saturday evening, “it’s safe to assume” the missing are deceased. Initial fears that 18 people had died were revised downward after officials confirmed that two individuals believed to be at the site were later found safe elsewhere.
The cause of the deadly blast at the Accurate Energetic Systems (AES) plant in Bucksnort, Tennessee, about 56 miles (90 km) southwest of Nashville, remains under investigation.
Footage captured on Friday showed flames still burning, black smoke rising, and vehicles reduced to twisted metal amid the ruins of the plant. Officials said debris was scattered across a half-mile radius around what used to be the main building.
AES, which specializes in the development and manufacture of explosives, has suspended all operations.
More than 300 state and local first responders have been combing through the wreckage since Friday morning. Sheriff Davis said the mission shifted from rescue to recovery early Saturday.
“The expectation of anyone who was inside that building… we can assume they are deceased,” Davis told reporters, visibly emotional. “As we go further into this, it’s even more devastating than we first thought.”
The FBI has joined the operation, using rapid DNA testing to identify victims and notify families. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is also on-site to help determine the cause of the explosion.
Sheriff Jason Craft of neighboring Hickman County said authorities are now focusing on supporting the victims’ families.
This isn’t the first tragedy at the AES site—another fatal explosion occurred there in 2014.
Local residents described scenes of panic and confusion following the blast.
Ann Myers, a Bucksnort resident, said she was jolted awake early Friday by the explosion. “It was the weirdest thing ever,” she said. “The camper shook, the power went out, and I thought maybe it was a tornado or a truck crash.”
Another resident, Justin Stover, who lives next to the plant, said his house shook violently. “It was like the loudest thunder you’ve ever heard,” he recalled. “Things fell off the walls and shelves. I thought a plane had crashed.”
Stover added that the explosion might have damaged his property’s water well. “It’s one of the only businesses around here,” he said of AES. “A lot of locals worked there—and many may have lost their lives. This tragedy is going to hit our whole community hard.”
Residents up to 15 miles (25 km) away reported hearing the deafening blast.
Lucy Garton, another local, said her husband personally knew several AES employees. “It will deeply impact this area,” she said. “This is a small, close-knit community. People here work hard, care for their families, and look out for each other.”
