The explosion which obliterated a bomb factory in Tennessee left no survivor, investigators have said.
The blast that levelled the Accurate Energetic Systems headquarters in Bucksnort, around an hour west of Nashville, on Friday was felt for miles.
Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis told reporters today: ‘More than 300 people have been through almost every square inch of this facility, and at this time, we’ve recovered no survivors.’
He had earlier confirmed 18 people were missing.
Davis confirmed the operation had shifted from rescue to recovery and that investigators would use DNA testing to confirm the identities of those who died.
Aerial footage showed the company’s hilltop location smouldering and smoky Friday, with just a mass of twisted metal, burned-out shells of cars and an array of debris left behind.
Davis, who described it as one of the worst scenes he’s ever seen, said officials were investigating the site and still working to recover those who were killed.
‘It’s not like working an accident. It’s not like working a tornado. We’re dealing with explosions. And I would say at this time, we’re dealing with remains,’ he said.
At times becoming apparently emotional, Davis said there has been an outpouring of support for the community.
Located in a heavily wooded area of middle Tennessee, Bucksnort is between the economically vital Tennessee River and the bustling metropolis of Nashville.
Terry Bagsby, 68, is retired but he helps out working the register at a gas station near the site.
He said locals are ‘very, very sad’. He said he knows people who worked at the site and are missing.
‘I don’t know how to explain it,’ he said. ‘Just a lot of grief.’
Investigators, including agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, were still working to determine the cause of the explosion, officials said.
The presence of explosives and other ordnance at the property has made searching the scene complicated.
In a statement on Friday, the company thanked first responders but did not indicate a possible cause.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, coworkers, and community members affected by this incident,’ the company said.
Accurate Energetic Systems develops, manufactures and stores explosives for ‘military, aerospace, and commercial demolition markets’, according to the company’s website.
The headquarters includes eight production buildings and a quality lab.
A small ammunition explosion at the plant in 2014 killed one person and injured three, according to local news reports.
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