Bucksnort, Tennessee, 12 October (H.S.): A catastrophic explosion at the Accurate Energetic Systems (AES) munitions factory in Bucksnort, Tennessee, has left 18 people unaccounted for, with officials fearing no survivors, Sheriff Chris Davis announced on Saturday. The blast occurred on Friday morning at the plant located approximately 90 kilometers southwest of Nashville, devastating the facility and scattering debris across half a mile around the site.Emergency response efforts involved over 300 state and local first responders who have since shifted from search to recovery operations due to the bleak prospects of finding anyone alive inside the razed building.
Authorities including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms are investigating the incident with a focus on victim identification and family support.Residents across the nearby community described a violent shockwave that rattled homes and knocked out power, with eyewitnesses initially mistaking the explosion for a tornado or plane crash.
The AES plant, which employed around 80 locals, represents a key source of employment for this close-knit area, intensifying the tragedy’s emotional toll.Sheriff Davis described the incident as even more devastating than initially believed and emphasized the urgent attention on supporting victims’ families during an overwhelming time for the community. This marks the second fatal explosion reported at the AES facility, recalling a similar incident in 2014. The cause of the explosion remains unclear as investigations continue.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
