Tennessee Plant Explosion Kills 16 Workers, Devastates Small Community

A Developing Story in Centerville, Tennessee

A catastrophic explosion at the Accurate Energetic Systems (AES) facility in Centerville, Tennessee has left 16 workers dead and an entire community grieving. The blast occurred early Friday morning, October 10, around 7:45 a.m., shaking homes up to 20 miles away and sending debris flying for more than two miles.

The AES plant manufactures high explosives for the U.S. military and industrial markets. Officials confirmed that one building on the company’s 1,300-acre campus was completely destroyed. The explosion was so powerful that it registered as a seismic event and drew a massive emergency response from multiple counties.

Sheriff Chris Davis of Humphreys County said that all 16 victims have now been accounted for, with no survivors found inside the destroyed building. Recovery teams, including the ATF and FBI, have spent days combing through debris foot by foot because of the presence of unstable explosive materials.

What We Know So Far

According to state and federal investigators:

• The explosion occurred at Accurate Energetic Systems, a military-grade explosives plant located about 60 miles west of Nashville

• All 16 workers inside the affected building were killed

• The blast was felt across Humphreys and Hickman Counties, with debris scattered across a half-mile radius

• More than 300 personnel from local, state, and federal agencies are working at the scene

• Investigators are using DNA testing to identify victims and cell tower data to confirm who was inside the plant

• The cause of the explosion remains under investigation by the ATF, FBI, and Tennessee OSHA

This is the deadliest workplace explosion in Tennessee in decades and one of the most devastating incidents to strike the region since the 2021 floods that killed 20 people in nearby Waverly.

Potential Factors in Explosive Plant Disasters

While investigators have not yet determined the cause, industrial explosions of this kind often involve multiple factors such as:

• Unsafe handling or storage of explosive materials

• Inadequate training or safety procedures

• Equipment or mechanical failure

• Violations of OSHA or ATF safety standards

• Employer negligence in maintaining safe working conditions

Public records show that AES has faced previous safety-related citations. In 2019, the company was fined by OSHA for violations involving protective equipment and hazardous materials training. Those concerns may now come under renewed scrutiny.

VB Attorneys’ Experience in Explosion and Workplace Disaster Cases

At VB Attorneys, we have represented workers and families in catastrophic explosion cases across the country, including refinery blasts, plant fires, and pipeline accidents.

Our nationally recognized trial lawyers are Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a distinction held by fewer than 2% of Texas attorneys.

We understand the complexity of industrial explosion cases and how companies and insurers often move quickly to protect their own interests before families have answers.

Helping Families After Catastrophic Explosions

If you have questions about your legal rights after the Tennessee plant explosion, we are available to review your case and provide clear answers.

📞 Call (713) 224-7800 for a free consultation — no fee unless we win.