Eighteen people are missing after a blast at a military explosives manufacturing facility in Tennessee on Friday. Harris County Sheriff Chris Davis said one person initially believed to be on site had been located at home. Four or five people were taken to a nearby hospital after the enormous explosion that leveled the factory.
There's nothing to describe, it's gone, he said.
The plant in Bucksnort, Tennessee - roughly 56 miles (90km) southwest of Nashville - specializes in the development, manufacture, handling, and storage of explosives. The cause of the blast remains unclear.
Aerial video from the scene showed charred debris, smoldering vehicles, and little remaining of the facility, which is owned by Accurate Energetic Systems. Sheriff Davis, who was visibly emotional during his briefing, declined to specify how many casualties there may be.
He noted that the plant had been operational when the explosion occurred, and secondary blasts forced first responders to maintain distance from the site. Workers who had just started their day now may be missing or deceased. A lot of times, when I have these types of situations, I refer to them more than just a person...we're missing 19 souls, Davis said.
During a second briefing, it was confirmed that 19 people are still unaccounted for, and the explosion occurred in a large building, flinging debris across a half square mile area. Residents in nearby towns reportedly felt the blast.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee referred to the event as a tragic incident, and authorities are coordinating with federal agencies to respond to the explosion, while investigations are set to begin.
