According to authorities, several people have died after a “devastating explosion” at an explosives manufacturing plant in Tennessee on Friday.
The explosion occurred Friday morning at Accurate Energetic Systems in McEwen, located about 50 miles west of Nashville.
The aftermath is seen after an explosion at Accurate Energetic Systems in McEwen, Tennessee.
Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis confirmed to reporters that there are “some” deaths and several people missing in the explosion, although he did not give specific numbers.
At least 13 people are missing, Hickman County Mayor Jim Bates told ABC News.
Law enforcement officials are shown at the scene of an explosion at Accurate Energetic Systems in McEwen, Tennessee, on October 10, 2025.
WKRN
“We have a very large investigation,” Davis said during a news conference. “This isn’t going to be something like a car accident or something, where we’re just going to clean up the debris and leave. We’ll probably be here for a few days.”
“We are trying to take as much time as necessary at this time. We are prioritizing the people involved, their families and trying to be very compassionate with them,” he continued.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation were among the agencies that responded to the scene, Davis said.
The aftermath is seen after an explosion at Accurate Energetic Systems in McEwen, Tennessee.
Accurate Energetic Systems is “cooperating with us in any way, in every way possible,” Davis said.
“They want to solve this as much as we do,” he added.
Accurate Energetic Systems manufactures explosives and energy devices for the military, aerospace, demolition and mining industries, according to its website.
Its clients include the Department of Defense and Homeland Security, according to the United States Army Association.
The explosion occurred at 7:48 a.m. local time and destroyed one of the facility’s buildings, authorities said.
Video from a Nest camera at a home in Lobelville, about 11 miles from the plant, captured shaking while an explosion was heard.
Law enforcement officials are shown at the scene of an explosion at Accurate Energetic Systems in McEwen, Tennessee, on October 10, 2025.
WKRN
A McEwen resident who lives several miles from the plant said she felt her entire house shake.
“It felt like our house had had some kind of explosion.,” Lauren Roark told ABC News. “I jumped out of bed and asked my husband, ‘What was that?'”
Roark found what he believes to be debris from the explosion in his yard: “large pieces of insulating-looking material,” which he reported to authorities.
Kerem Inal of ABC News contributed to this report.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
