Tennessee community mourns 16 killed in munitions plant explosion | Tennessee
At least 200 mourners arrived at the Humphreys County courthouse at dusk Sunday to mourn the 16 people killed in an explosion early Friday at a nearby munitions plant in middle Tennessee.
Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said that even in these nightmarish days, “the true strength of our county is our people.”
“When tragedy strikes, our people always show up,” he said through tears.
He urged locals to take action for neighbors who lost friends and family members in the explosion that leveled a building at the Accurate Energetic Systems (AES) headquarters in nearby Bucksnort, Tennessee, and threw debris two miles away. “Help fill the void of your lost loved one with your love,” he said. “Let’s take the time to wrap our arms around these families.”
Attendees passed a flame through white candelabra until the courthouse lawn was filled with soft light. Musicians played Christian worship songs and classic hymns, and community members also sang softly.
Tennessee governor Bill Lee visited the families and flew to the area to survey the damage. “It’s kind of like what Tennesseans do: They surround themselves in times of greatest challenges,” Lee said. “Losses are huge”
The cause of the explosion was not determined and authorities did not rule out the possibility of an attack. Authorities did not release the names of the victims, but they spoke with the families of all 16 workers presumed dead and confirmed that the operation had moved from rescue to recovery. Teams in the region are using rapid DNA technology to identify the remains of the dead.
At a news conference Friday afternoon, a reporter asked Davis to explain the site. “Can I tell you about the building? There is nothing to explain, it is gone,” he said. “The most devastating scene I have ever seen in my career.”
Some churches in the area canceled their regular meetings this morning in favor of intimate prayer services to lift up the victims and their families. A small church was filled to standing room only. White folding chairs were brought out from the back to accommodate the overflow of guests.
Chairs full of red-eyed congregations surrounded the assistant preacher. He stood in front of a simple altar surmounted by a cross and two lighted candlesticks. He didn’t use a microphone; he didn’t need it. The bunker was silent except for the sounds of sniffles and the occasional broken sob. People passed around boxes of tissues and fussy babies and held on to each other. Several people in blue shirts from Billy Graham Ministries were on hand for mourners who wanted to speak or pray after the service.
After the service, a man who knew one of the deceased said he had never been to church before but thought the church was generally a very small congregation.
On Sunday morning, it was estimated that about 150 to 200 people attended.
As the congregation began to mill around outside, volunteers folded the white chairs and carried them into the back room. Two crying women hugged. “We’ll see him again someday,” one said to the other.
