McEwen / Humphreys County, Tennessee — October 10, 2025
A massive explosion leveled a U.S. military explosives manufacturing facility in rural Tennessee on Friday morning, leaving at least 19 people missing and feared dead, officials said. The blast tore through the Accurate Energetic Systems (AES) plant near McEwen, about 90 kilometers west of Nashville, igniting fires and scattering debris over a vast area.
Debris scattered after an explosion at the Accurate Energetic Systems factory in Tennessee on October 10 (Photo: WTVF).
“It’s gone,” sheriff says of the flattened facility
Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis described the destruction as “one of the worst scenes” he had witnessed in his career. “There’s nothing to describe — it’s gone,” Davis said at a press briefing. He confirmed that multiple people were dead and that 19 others remained unaccounted for as rescue operations continued through the evening.
First responders were unable to immediately enter the site due to intense flames and the risk of secondary explosions. “We had to hold back for several hours,” Davis said. “This is not like a traffic accident you can clear and leave. We’ll be here for days.”
Residents felt the explosion miles away
Local residents reported hearing the detonation from miles away. “I thought my house had collapsed,” said Gentry Stover, who lives less than a kilometer from the AES site. “The shockwave was so strong that it shook the whole neighborhood. About 30 seconds after waking up, I realized it had to be the Accurate plant.”
Doorbell cameras and weather radar in nearby communities captured the blast wave and the rising smoke plume. Several nearby homes and businesses suffered minor damage, though no off-site injuries were immediately reported.
Image at the US military explosives factory before the explosion occurred (Photo: Google Maps).
Image at the US military explosives factory after the explosion (Photo: WTVF).
Massive emergency response underway
Local fire departments, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), and federal agencies — including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI — have joined the investigation. Officials have set up a family assistance center for relatives of missing workers and established a hotline for information.
TEMA activated its State Emergency Operations Center to coordinate response efforts, while environmental crews began monitoring air quality due to the chemicals stored on-site. Authorities urged residents to avoid the area and remain indoors if they smelled smoke or chemicals.
Company background and past incidents
Accurate Energetic Systems, founded in 1991, is a private defense contractor that supplies explosive materials and components to the U.S. Department of Defense, including the Army and Navy. Its products include prepackaged explosives, directional mines, breaching charges, and other energetic materials used in both military and commercial applications.
The AES complex spans over 1,300 acres (526 hectares), housing eight buildings for manufacturing, storage, research, and testing.
This is not the first major incident at the plant. In 2014, a smaller explosion at an AES facility killed one worker and injured several others. Regulatory agencies previously cited the company for safety and chemical-handling violations — details that are now expected to be revisited as part of the investigation.
Federal investigation launched
Officials have not yet determined the cause of Friday’s blast or how many employees were inside the facility at the time. The ATF’s National Response Team, which specializes in investigating large-scale industrial explosions, has been deployed to the scene.
“This will be a large-scale investigation involving multiple agencies,” said Sheriff Davis. “We are focused first on accounting for every missing person, then determining exactly what happened.”
A community shaken
The explosion has devastated the small community of McEwen, where AES is a major employer. Local churches opened shelters and provided food for affected families, while nearby schools canceled classes.
“This is a tight-knit community — everybody knows somebody who works there,” said local pastor David Jennings. “We’re praying for the families and for the rescuers still at the site.”
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee called the incident “a tragic day for our state” and pledged full support for local authorities. “We are coordinating with federal partners to assist in recovery and investigation efforts,” the governor said in a statement.
What’s next
Authorities expect the search and investigation to last for several days, possibly weeks, as the site remains unstable. Officials said it could take “considerable time” before all missing workers are accounted for or before the cause of the explosion is determined.
Accurate Energetic Systems has pledged full cooperation, stating in a brief release that the company “is deeply saddened by this tragedy and is working closely with emergency services and investigators.”
Summary:
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Location: Accurate Energetic Systems, McEwen, Tennessee
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Casualties: At least 19 missing, several confirmed dead
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Response: ATF, FBI, TEMA, and local authorities on site
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Status: Fires contained, investigation ongoing
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Cause: Under investigation