Tennessee Explosives Factory Blast Claims Sixteen Lives
McEwen, TN – A devastating explosion at an explosives factory in Bucksnort, Tennessee, early Friday morning resulted in the deaths of sixteen people, according to local authorities. The blast occurred at a facility operated by Accurate Energetic Systems, located approximately 60 miles (97 kilometers) southwest of Nashville.
The explosion jolted residents awake, with some reporting their homes shook and capturing the sound on home cameras. Gentry Stover of Lobelville, a 20-minute drive from the site, described the impact, stating, “I thought the house had collapsed with me inside of it…I realized about 30 seconds after I woke up that it had to have been that.”
Officials held an evening news conference Friday,announcing the confirmed death toll and stating that counselors would be available for grieving students on Monday.
Earlier in the day, around 30 people gathered at a church in McEwen to pray for the victims and their families. Attendees were observed bowing their heads, closing their eyes, kneeling, and offering quiet prayers and support to one another. Pastor Farris, speaking to the media after the vigil, acknowledged the area’s history of tragedy, including a previous deadly flood, and emphasized the need for support for first responders. “This is tiresome physically. This kind of thing weighs on you mentally. They carry that home.They need prayer and encouragement as well,” he said.
Accurate Energetic Systems, which processes explosives and ammunition at an eight-building facility, released a statement on social media expressing their “thoughts and prayers” with the families and community affected. The company also extended gratitude to the first responders working at the scene.
The facility has a history of securing military contracts, primarily with the U.S. army and Navy, for a range of munitions and explosives, including bulk explosives, landmines, and small breaching charges like C4.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he was monitoring the situation and requested prayers for those impacted by the “tragic incident.” A vigil was also held friday night at a nearby park, where attendees gathered to pray and sing “Amazing Grace.”
The U.S. has experienced numerous workplace accidents throughout its history. The article references the 1907 Monongah coal mine explosion, which claimed 362 lives, and notes that several industrial accidents in the 1960s led to the creation of the occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 1971.
Records indicate that Accurate energetic Systems faced several minor fines from the U.S. Department of Labor in 2019 for violations of worker safety policies related to hazardous chemicals,radiation,and other irritants. Another explosion occurred at a different ammunition facility in the same community in 2014, resulting in one fatality and at least three injuries.
The number of employees at the Accurate Energetic Systems facility and how many were present at the time of the explosion remain unknown at this time.
