HICKMAN COUNTY, Tenn. (WZTV) — An explosion at a Tennessee plant has left the community in shock as investigators work to uncover the cause, and the community rallies together.
The explosion occurred Friday morning at the Accurate Energetic Systems facility, registering a 1.6 on the Richter scale and felt miles away.
16 individuals are presumed dead after the explosion in Hickman County, Sheriff Chris Davis with the Humphreys County Sheriff’s Office says.
According to Davis, the 16 presumed dead are:
Jeremy MooreJason AdamsErick AndersonBilly BakerAdam BoatmanChristopher ClarkMindy CliftonJames CookLaTeisha Mays Trenton StewartMelinda RaineySteven WrightReyna GillahanMelissa StaffordRachel WoodallDonald Yowell
Gov. Bill Lee visited Hickman and Humphreys counties on Sunday to assess the damage and meet with the families of the 16 individuals presumed dead.
“Tears and stunned silence, quite frankly,” described Lee after visiting families that gathered at a church, along with support groups. “A situation of real grief… It was quite moving to be there with those families.”
More than 300 personnel are searching the site for remains and explosives, according to Davis. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is using rapid DNA technology to identify victims and provide answers to families.
The cause of the explosion remains unknown, and the investigation is expected to be lengthy.
“There’s a lot of questions that have been unanswered, but the folks are here that can do that work,” said Lee. “And that work will last for months in an effort to get the answers that people need for closure, for understanding.”
Accurate Energetic Systems had previously received serious violations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 2019. The OSHA report noted various violations, including faults in employee training and the use of protective equipment.
Residents are urged to contact the local sheriff’s office if they find debris, and Accurate Energetic Systems has set up a Family Assistance Center to offer support for those affected.
A GoFundMe was created to raise funds to help affected families.
The next press conference will be on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at 6 p.m., and FOX 17 News will be livestreaming on YouTube and Facebook.
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