Chris Davis, the police chief of the Free State County Police Department in Tennessee, announced on Saturday, that 16 people have been killed following a devastating explosion at the Accurate Energetic Systems ammunition manufacturing plant near the city of McCown.
Two other people who had previously been reported missing were later found safe and were not present at the scene.
The factory, which produces explosives and military ammunition, was completely destroyed, and no survivors were found among the victims.
The search and rescue operation, which involved more than 300 people, including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), was complicated by the presence of unstable explosive remnants, according to local officials.
The explosion occurred around early morning and its tremors were felt for kilometers, burning cars and severely damaging buildings.
The cause of the accident is still unknown and the investigation is ongoing, although a criminal aspect has not been ruled out
