A military explosives factory in Tennessee, southeastern United States, exploded and caught fire on the morning of the 10th. According to local officials cited by American media, the explosion left 19 people missing, who are likely dead.
The explosion occurred around 7:45 a.m. local time. The factory is located near the border of Humphreys County and Hickman County, about 100 kilometers southwest of the state capital, Nashville.
Videos from social media showed thick smoke rising high into the sky, one building completely destroyed, and cars scattered around the area. Due to the massive force of the explosion, residents 20 kilometers away felt the ground shake.
Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis told reporters after the incident that it was “a very destructive explosion,” “destroyed the entire building,” and confirmed that “some people died.” He did not specify the number of deaths during a late afternoon press conference, but emotionally stressed that 19 people were missing. Based on this, several American media outlets concluded that these 19 missing individuals may have perished.
After the incident, rescue personnel arrived at the scene to assess the fire and take appropriate measures. Some media reported that rescue workers were temporarily unable to enter the site for search and rescue operations due to concerns about a secondary explosion. Police urged the public to avoid going to the incident location.
The factory belongs to a company named “American Precision Explosives Systems.” Public information shows that the company was established in 1980 and is a manufacturer that produces various high explosives and specialty products for the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. industrial market.
The cause of the explosion is still unknown. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in the United States has joined the investigation. A Pentagon official stated on the same day that the Department of Defense had been informed of the explosion and would conduct an investigation.
