Massive Blast at Tennessee Explosives Plant Kills Sixteen

What Happened?

An enormous blast at an explosives plant in Centerville, Tennessee, killed sixteen people and destroyed several structures, which were part of a plant operated by Accurate Energetic Systems. The cause of the explosion has not yet been determined, and efforts to examine evidence have been slowed down by the presence of potentially unexploded ordinance on the site of the blast. 

Local authorities issued a statement about the incident, saying, ‘At this time, we have not located any survivors, and we are making the assumption that all are deceased at this point.’ 

Why it Matters

The blast is not the first to strike the Centerville location. Another fatal explosion took place at the same facility in 2014. The size of the blast suggests a substantial amount of explosives were involved, since several structures were completely destroyed. The plant is run by Accurate Energetic Systems, which manufactures military grade explosives for ordnance and demolition. Military grade explosives are more powerful than any other kind, and the scale of the devastation indicates those types of materials were likely involved.

Because the plant manufactures explosives for military weapons, the presence of other live ordnance on the site has hampered the initial investigation. Until the site can be cleared of dangerous explosives, a more thorough investigation will not be possible, which means it will likely take longer for investigators to gather enough evidence to be able to determine the cause of the blast.

‘While this investigation is still in this early stage, at this point, the cause of this explosion has not yet been determined,’ Tyra Cunningham, assistant special agent at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Explosives, told local reporters the day after the blast had occurred. In addition to the potential presence of live explosives, the scale of the debris will also increase the time it takes to conduct an investigation. Debris is scattered over a half-mile area, and every piece of evidence must be collected and examined.

At this time, there is no indication that the blast was intentional, nor have any of the law enforcement agencies investigating the incident suggested that foul play is suspected. Because the plant manufactures high-grade explosives, the most likely explanation is that the blast was unintentional. The potential for safety violations is also possible, because if existing regulations were followed to the letter, this type of incident would be very unlikely to occur.

How it Affects You

Since U.S. military aid to Ukraine and Israel has increased in the past two years, so has the demand for military grade explosives to be used to manufacture new ordnance. Whether increased demand and shortened delivery schedules played any part in the Centerville explosion remains to be seen, but it is a possibility.