Multiple fatalities and 18 missing in Tennessee explosives plant disaster VIDEO

Multiple fatalities have been reported following a massive explosion at an explosives manufacturing facility in Tennessee, prompting an extensive search and rescue operation, authorities said.

The blast occurred on the morning of October 10 at Accurate Energetic Systems, an explosives plant in McEwen, roughly 50 miles west of Nashville.

Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis confirmed that there were “some” fatalities but declined to specify how many. As of Friday evening, 18 people remained unaccounted for, according to the Humphreys County Emergency Management Agency, cited by US media.

Officials initially reported that 19 people were missing, but later said one of them had been found safe at home. Authorities are still working to confirm who was present at the facility at the time of the explosion and to notify the families of those affected.

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

He added that rescuers were holding out hope that some of the missing individuals might still be found alive. “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,” Davis said.

Search operations continued across the property throughout the afternoon, with officials emphasising that the response remained a rescue mission. “We always want to keep that hope alive. We always want to keep the good Lord in our hearts and keep making prayers that we can find some people,” the sheriff said, adding that authorities were determined to “exhaust every asset” before transitioning from rescue to recovery.

According to Davis, between four and five people were taken to local hospitals, though he did not provide details about the nature of their injuries.

The cause of the explosion has not yet been determined and remains under investigation.

By Tamilla Hasanova