On Friday morning, a massive explosion leveled an explosives manufacturing plant in rural Tennessee. Though this immensely sad episode claimed at least 158 lives, more than a hundred are still missing. The impact of this blast resonated across the community. It shook houses as far as Lobelville, a town over 20 minutes from the facility.
The explosion occurred just after dawn, triggering swift action from emergency services. Eyewitnesses said they heard an explosion that knocked people out of their beds. Gentry Stover, one such resident, called the incident “terrifying,” adding that he was rattled awake by the explosion that nearly leveled his house.
Emergency services were on their way, but subsequent explosions prevented first responders from reaching the scene. Advanced EMT David Stewart of Hickman County talked about the threat of the secondary explosions. They required immediate peaceful evacuation of rescuers from the area while they made a determination for their safety. Later that morning, contingent after contingent of first responders and explosives experts eventually were able to retake the scene. Picking through the rubble, they quickly started looking for victims.
The Tennessee department of emergency management hasn’t released any detailed casualty or injury counts as of this writing. Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis has reported that the number of missing remains in the double digits. The state department of health has not confirmed any information regarding the injured or missing.
Residents all across the region complained of shaking from the blast. Countless others were startled awake, including those who filmed the explosion on their home doorbell cameras. Not surprisingly, the intensity of this blast has worried local officials as well as community advocates.
“We are trying to be mindful of families and that situation,” – Chris Davis, Humphreys County Sheriff
Meanwhile, efforts to determine the cause of the explosion continue as first responders search for survivors. The local community is rightfully anxious. They’re hopeful that officials will soon be reporting on the health of people involved in this horrific event.