(Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
Its the kind of tragedy no community is ever prepared for. What started as an ordinary Friday morning quickly turned into a nightmare for residents of McEwen, Tennessee. A massive explosion at a local explosives manufacturing facility rocked the area leaving behind devastation, unanswered questions, and a town in mourning.
According to officials, the blast occurred around 7:48 a.m. at Accurate Energetic Systems, a company that supplies explosives for the military, aerospace, and mining industries. Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis confirmed there were fatalities, though he did not release an official number. Whats worse, 19 people remain unaccounted for. Its probably been one of the most devastating situations that Ive been on in my career, the sheriff said, visibly emotional during a Friday afternoon press briefing. Additionally, multiple people were transported to nearby hospitals, though their conditions have not been released.
Authorities say one of the facilitys buildings was completely obliterated by the explosion. Theres nothing to describe. Its gone, Davis added. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with Homeland Security and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, have joined the ongoing investigation. The cause of the explosion is still unknown, but Sheriff Davis made it clear this wont be a quick cleanup. Were going to probably be here for a few days, he said, emphasizing that the focus is on the families and victims first. AES is reportedly cooperating fully with authorities, also working to understand what went wrong.
The blast didnt just affect the facility it shook homes miles away. One local, Lauren Roark, told reporters, It felt like our house had some kind of explosion.” She added, “I jumped out of bed, asked my husband, What was that? Another resident, Kadi Arnold, said shed grown used to minor booms from the plant but this one felt different. The explosion was so loud and shook my home, I literally thought the back of my house had exploded. Both women, like many in the McEwen community, are still reeling. Were a pretty tight-knit community and were all just devastated and heartbroken, Arnold said.
