This is the kind of tragedy no community is ever prepared for. What started out as an ordinary Friday morning quickly turned into a nightmare for the residents of McEwen, Tennessee. A massive explosion at a local explosives manufacturing plant has rocked the region, leaving behind devastation, unanswered questions and a city in mourning.
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Fatal explosion hits explosives factory, 19 missing
Authorities say the explosion occurred around 7:48 a.m. at Accurate Energetic Systems, a company that supplies explosives to the military, aerospace and mining industries. Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis confirmed there were fatalities, although he did not release an official number. Worse still, 19 people are still missing. “This is probably one of the most devastating situations I have experienced in my career.» said the sheriff, visibly moved during a press briefing Friday afternoon. In addition, several people were transported to nearby hospitals, although their condition has not been released.
“Here we go” – The explosion clears the entire building
Authorities say one of the facility’s buildings was completely destroyed by the explosion. “There is nothing to describe. It’s 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 that it would not be a quick cleanup. “We’ll probably stay here for a few days“, » he declared, emphasizing that the priority is placed on the families and the victims. AES would fully cooperate with the authorities and also work to understand what went wrong.
The shock waves were felt miles away, residents speak out
The explosion didn’t just affect the facility: it shook homes miles away. A local, Lauren Roark, told reporters: “It felt like our house had some sort of explosion.» She added“I jumped out of bed and asked my husband, “What was that?”» Another resident, Kadi Arnold, said she had gotten used to the small booms from the factory – but this one felt different. “The explosion was so loud and shook my house that I literally thought the back of my house had exploded.» Both women, like many members of the McEwen community, are still in shock. “We are a pretty tight-knit community and we are all devastated and heartbroken.» Arnold said.
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