Explosion at Tennessee Military Explosives Plant Leaves 19 Missing

According to Rokna, a catastrophic explosion rocked the Accurate Energetic Systems military explosives facility in McEwen, Tennessee, on Friday morning, leaving 19 employees missing and feared dead. The blast occurred around 7:45 a.m. CDT and destroyed one of the buildings on the company’s 1,300-acre campus.

Emergency responders described the scene as chaotic, with fires and secondary detonations hampering rescue operations. Debris from the explosion scattered over half a square mile, and residents reported feeling the blast up to 15 miles away.

Officials have not yet determined the cause of the explosion. Federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), have launched investigations to determine what triggered the disaster.

Local authorities are urging residents to avoid the area while emergency teams continue search and rescue operations. Meanwhile, company officials have pledged full cooperation with investigators and have expressed concern for the safety of their personnel.

“This is a tragic situation, and our thoughts are with all those affected,” said a spokesperson for Accurate Energetic Systems. “We are working closely with first responders and federal authorities to ensure the safety of everyone on site.”

The explosion has reignited concerns about safety protocols at facilities handling military-grade explosives, with experts calling for a thorough review of storage, handling, and emergency response procedures.

As of now, no confirmed fatalities have been announced, but authorities warn that the missing personnel are presumed dead due to the scale of the destruction. Rescue teams are continuing their efforts amid ongoing risks from unstable materials and potential secondary blasts.