Multiple people are dead and others are missing following a blast at a military explosives facility in Tennessee on Friday morning, according to authorities.
The explosion happened at Accurate Energetic Systems in the Bucksnort area just before 8 a.m. local time.
“We do have several people at this time unaccounted for. We are trying to be mindful of families and that situation,” Humprheys County Sheriff Chris Davis said at a news conference. “We do have some that are deceased.”
The production site is situated on 1,300 acres about fifty miles west of Nashville along Interstate 40.
The facility includes eight specialized production buildings and a lab to analyze products.
“Our manufacturing facilities are designed with environmental control systems to ensure optimal conditions for the production of high-quality energetics and explosives,” its website states.
Law enforcement urged the public on Friday to avoid the area and follow instructions from local authorities.
The exact cause of the blast remains unknown.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
