Khaberni - A massive explosion at an explosives factory in Tennessee, USA, resulted in the deaths of 16 people, according to authorities on Saturday, in a new toll that is lower than the initial one after two missing individuals believed to have died were found.
The explosion occurred on Friday in the town of Baxnord at a facility owned by "Accurate Energetic Systems," which manufactures explosives for military purposes and demolition.
The explosion destroyed an entire building in the large factory complex and caused reverberations felt by residents kilometers away, leading to debris scattering, according to media reports.
After initially assuming the death of 18 missing individuals, Humphreys County Police Chief Chris Davis said, "We were able to determine the locations and confirm that the other two individuals were not present at the site" at the time of the incident.
Their vehicle and personal belongings were found at the site, leading to the initial belief they were among the victims.
The company described the explosion in a statement as a "tragic accident."
However, an official from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Bryce McCracken, informed journalists late on Saturday that the authorities "today did not come close at all to determining the source and cause of this explosion."
Earlier, Davis was unable to rule out the possibility that the incident was deliberate, explaining that uncovering the truth would take "several days, weeks, or months."
