Tennessee: 19 missing after deadly explosives plant blast

The Humphreys County sheriff confirmed fatalities but gave no tolls, suggesting those missing might already be dead.

At least 19 people were missing after an explosion occurred at a military munitions plant in the US state of Tennessee on Friday, the Humphreys County sheriff said.

The sheriff confirmed that there had been fatalities but did not give a specific death toll.

"At this time we have been able to confirm that we do have 19 souls that we're looking for," said Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis at a press conference. "I can tell you that we've had, there are fatalities. I don't want to put a number to that... I can tell you right now we are looking for 19 individuals."

The Hickman County Sheriff's Office had earlier confirmed the explosion, saying that "emergency services are currently on the scene working to address the situation."

The company makes and tests explosives at the building near Bucksnort, a town some 60 miles (97 kilometers) southwest of Nashville, according to its website. The site is located roughly between the Hickman and Humphreys counties.

What do we know so far about the explosion?

Authorities told the Associated Press news agency that secondary blasts kept rescue services away from the burning site.

 The mayor's office in Hickman County initially told the French AFP news agency that it could not immediately confirm any fatalities or the cause of the explosion. 

"We do have several people at this time unaccounted for. We are trying to be mindful of families and that situation," Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis meanwhile said at a news conference. "We do have some that are deceased."

The sheriff's office called on the public to avoid the area and allow rescuers to do their work.

The cause of the blast was yet to be known. The sheriff said an investigation could take days.

Edited by: Saim Dušan Inayatullah