NASHVILLE, TN– NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Authorities said Wednesday they have found the remains of 14 bodies 16 people were killed last week in a huge explosion In a Explosives factory in TennesseeMore dangerous materials may need to be disarmed, and it may take weeks of work to try to determine the cause of the explosion.
In a press conference, Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation had identified 14 victims in the accident. Friday’s explosion at the plant owned by Accurate Energetic Systems. The government agency uses a “rapid DNA” process that can develop a DNA profile in less than two hours, starting with samples from family members to compare to any remains.
The ages of the dead range from 25 to 60 years. “The blessing that a lot of these families need is to be able to find some kind of closure,” Davis said, referring to the DNA confirmation.
Davis said it is unclear how long the arduous process of clearing the scene and processing evidence will take.
“I wouldn’t be surprised at all if we’re not here in a couple of months,” Davis said. “It’s about how big and how massive this scene is, and the precision with which they have to process this thing is unimaginable.”
There is a lot of work remaining at the vast scene, said Jamey Van Fleet, special agent in charge of the Nashville Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Accurate Energetic Systems supplies and researches explosives to the military and is a well-known company in the region. It employs about 150 people, according to the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
The company’s 1,300-acre (526 ha) complex in a densely forested area of middle Tennessee consists of eight different specialized production buildings and a laboratory. It straddles the Hickman and Humphreys county line in unincorporated Bucksnort County, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) southwest of Nashville.
The initial explosion was felt more than 20 miles (32 kilometers) away, sending a flaming wreckage of twisted and charred metal and burning vehicles into the factory. Authorities said there was No survivors Some evidence may be spread over miles.
“For the most part, we were able to remove hazardous materials and live explosives from the scene,” VanVleet said. “This does not mean that we will not uncover more as we move forward in this process. So, we are always aware of that. Also, in the initial stages, we try to consciously and respectfully remove the remains of victims from the scene.”
Authorities did not say what specific materials were in the building that exploded. Davis said this is still part of the investigation, and it is too early to speculate where the explosion might have started.
The company has received numerous military contracts, largely by the U.S. Army and Navy, to supply various types of munitions and explosives, according to public records. Products range from bulk explosives to landmines and small penetration charges, including C4.