An explosion at a military munitions plant in Tennessee has left several people dead and dozens missing. Authorities said rescuers were unable to approach the site because of continuing detonations that shook the surrounding area.
The incident occurred at the Accurate Energetic Systems facility, located in a hilly area near the town of Buxnort, about 97 kilometers (60 miles) southwest of Nashville. According to the company’s website, the plant comprises eight buildings where explosives are manufactured and tested. Residents in nearby communities reported hearing and feeling the blast from miles away.
“At this time, several people remain unaccounted for. We are trying to be mindful of the families involved,” Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said at a press conference. “There are fatalities,” he added. The cause of the explosion, which Davis described as “devastating,” has not yet been determined. He said the investigation could take several days.
After a powerful explosion at a military explosives plant in Hickman County, Tennessee, smoke filled the air as debris and damaged vehicles covered the ground. October 10, 2025.
Aerial footage captured by WTVF-TV showed that one of the hilltop buildings had been completely destroyed, leaving behind only charred debris and the burned-out shells of vehicles. Although the threat of large explosions had been contained, smaller detonations could still occur, the sheriff said.
David Stewart, a spokesperson for Hickman County Emergency Services, said by phone that rescue crews were unable to enter the plant grounds because of ongoing blasts. He provided no details on the number of victims. Accurate Energetic Systems, whose headquarters are in the nearby town of McEwen, did not respond to calls seeking comment.
“This is a tragedy for our entire community,” McEwen Mayor Brad Rachford said in an email, adding that further comments should come from county officials.
Residents of nearby Lobelville, about a twenty-minute drive away, said they felt strong vibrations, and some captured the sound of the explosion on home security cameras.
“I woke up to the blast and thought the house had collapsed on me,” said local resident Gentry Stover by phone. “I live right near Accurate, and within half a minute I realized it was an explosion at the plant.”
Debris after the explosion at a military explosives plant in Hickman County, Tennessee. October 10, 2025.
State Representative Jody Barrett from the nearby city of Dickson expressed concern about the economic fallout, noting that the plant is one of the region’s largest employers.
“We live about 15 miles away and clearly heard the explosion,” he said. “It sounded like something had blown through the roof of our house.”
Tennessee Emergency Management Agency spokesperson Kristin Coulter confirmed that there were injuries, though the number has not yet been released as the information is being verified by the Department of Health. She said agency coordinators had arrived at the scene at the request of Hickman County authorities.