A massive explosion rocked a military explosives manufacturing plant in central Tennessee on Friday (October 10).

UPDATE (10/11/2025):

Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis was in tears as he shared an update during a press conference on Saturday morning, the day after the tragic explosion.

David began the conference by saying, “As we get into this, we find it even more devastating than we thought initially … it’s a tremendous loss, a great loss.”

Davis told reporters that more than 300 people have been on site, combing through the debris. He confirmed that no survivors have been recovered.

Hickman County Sheriff J. Craft added that the scene is changing constantly and that they are trying to take care of the victims’ families as the investigation moves forward.

“It’s changing minute by minute. We found out this morning about some changes with the safety protocol … we were already going slow, and now we’re slowing things down even more just for safety for everybody,” Craft said.

Guy McCormick, an ATF agent based in Nashville, detailed the efforts being made to secure the area from any further danger before search and recovery efforts move forward.

“All of our bomb techs and explosives specialists are up there very thoroughly, methodically trying to make safe the area so that when the national response team comes in this afternoon, that area can be as safe as possible.”

Davis asked for patience as authorities work to identify the victims, a process he said will take some time due to the circumstances. When asked by a reporter if he had given up hope about finding survivors, Sheriff Davis replied:

“Ma’am, I never want to give up hope. Hope’s always on my heart. But, I don’t want to give false hope either.” He added, “At some point we’ve got to rip off the band aid … we’re dealing with explosions. I would say at this time we’re dealing with remains. We’re moving to recovery.”

Davis confirmed that the number of missing has changed from 19 to 18.

ORIGINAL POST:

Multiple people are dead following a “devastating blast” at an explosives manufacturing plant in Tennessee on Friday, according to authorities.

The explosion occurred Friday morning at Accurate Energetic Systems in McEwen, located about 50 miles west of Nashville.

Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis confirmed there are “some” fatalities, though he did not provide a specific number. Nineteen people are unaccounted for in the blast, he said.

“It’s probably been one of the most devastating situations that I’ve been on in my career,” Davis said during a press update Friday afternoon, getting emotional.

“I always wish for the best. Is there a possibility that somebody might be injured somewhere, or somebody that we don’t know about? Yes,” he later said regarding the missing individuals.

Four to five people were brought to hospitals, according to the sheriff, who did not detail their injuries.

Asked to describe the building where the explosion occurred, he said, “There’s nothing to describe. It’s gone.”

Davis said during an earlier briefing that this is a “very big investigation.”

“This is not going to be something that we’re going to be like a car wreck or something like that, that we’re just going to clean up the debris and leave. We’re going to probably be here for a few days,” he said.

“We’re trying to take as much time as is needed right now. We’re prioritizing people that are involved, their families and trying to be very compassionate toward them,” he continued.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are among the agencies that have responded to the scene, Davis said.

The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.

Accurate Energetic Systems is “cooperating with us in any way, in every way possible,” Davis said.

“They’re wanting to figure out this just as much as we are,” he added.

Accurate Energetic Systems manufactures explosives and energetic devices for the military, aerospace, demolition and mining industries, according to its website.