Explosion at Tennessee factory leaves several people dead
The factory is owned by Accurate Energetic Systems, a company that produces explosives. Authorities have also reported several people missing.
Explosion at an Accurate Energetic Systems factory in Tennessee
(AFP) Several people were killed and others are missing after an explosion at a factory in Tennessee, authorities said Friday.
Emergency crews went to Accurate Energetic Systems, an explosives manufacturing company located in Bucksnort, an area of Hickman County. Officials asked citizens to stay away from the area.
Aerial images relayed by the media showed smoking debris at the blast site, with charred and mangled vehicles scattered throughout the area.
"We can confirm that there was an explosion at Accurate Energetic Systems in the Bucksnort area (...). Emergency services are currently on scene working to address the situation," the Sheriff's Office wrote on Facebook.
The mayor's office in Hickman County told AFP it could not confirm at this time any deaths or the cause of the explosion.
But Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis reported "some" deaths and added that several people were missing after the "major explosion" that engulfed an entire building at the facility.
"Right now we have several people missing. We are trying to be considerate of the families and that situation," he said.
Davis noted that authorities had secured the area, but warned of the possibility of minor explosions around the site.
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