Ammunition plant explodes in Tennessee, US, causing deaths - Fox News

A massive explosion occurred at the Accurate Energetic Systems (AES) explosives plant in the US state of Tennessee, followed by a secondary detonation.

According to Fox News Channel, citing local authorities, at least two people were killed and at least 19 others are missing.

Several of the wounded were hospitalized. The footage published by the channel shows a pile of rubble on fire at the site where one of the company's buildings used to be. The explosion also damaged cars parked in a parking lot near the epicenter. Residents of Lobelville, a 20-minute drive from the site, said their homes were shaken violently by the explosion.

The plant was located on a wooded hill about 80 kilometers west of Nashville. According to open sources, the AES production complex consisted of five buildings and a laboratory for assessing product quality. The company, founded in 1980, specializes in the development, production, transportation and storage of a wide range of substances, including for the defense and aerospace industries: granular and bulk explosives, energy devices, shaped charge, etc.

AES's clients include the military, the defense industry, and the aerospace industry.

The company's clients include the US Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security. The army purchased dynamite, anti-personnel mines, and explosive powder for large-caliber shells from AES, among other things. The plant is also a key employer in the area where it is located.

Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said the cause of the explosion has not yet been determined and the investigation could take several days. When asked to describe the building where the explosion occurred, he said: "There's nothing to describe. It's gone."