16 killed in Tennessee explosives factory blast are identified

Law enforcement agencies have identified 16 people killed in an explosion that leveled a munitions plant in the US state of Tennessee.

The names were announced during a briefing Monday near Accurate Energetic Systems (AES) in Hickman County, where the explosion occurred in the early morning hours of Oct. 10. no survivors.

Sheriffs Chris Davis of Humphreys County and Jason Craft of Hickman County took turns reading the victims' names and emphasizing the “need to take care” of their families in the wake of the tragedy.

The cause of the explosion is still unclear. The investigation is being led by agents from the National Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

The victims were Jason Adams, Eric Anderson, Billy Baker, Adam Botman, Christopher Clark, Mindy Clifton, James Cook, Rayna Gillahan, LaTeisha Mays, Jeremy Moore, Melinda Rainey, Melissa Stanford, Trenton Stewart, Rachel Woodall, Steven Wright and Donald Yowell.

Authorities said the men are presumed dead and the release of their names does not mean their remains have been identified. This process continues.

Sheriff Davis, who called the explosion one of the most devastating incidents of his career, said one of the victims was a teacher.

Another was his neighbor's husband, he said, and a third, according to local newspaper The Tennessean, was one of his best friends.

Authorities initially feared that 18 people had died, but two people believed to be at the scene were later found elsewhere.

Sheriff Davis said while he may not have known all the victims personally, he does know family members or extended relatives.

Tragedy has hit hard in a friendly citywhere cell service is poor and a gas station adorned with a central Confederate flag is the local watering hole.

Resident Gerry Newcombe told the BBC that her friend of more than 20 years, Rayna Gillahan was among the victims. They met when her granddaughter and Gillahan's daughter became close as children.

We “grew up together – we were in each other's houses,” she said at the weekend vigil. “We celebrated birthdays together. It’s just surreal because she’s gone and her kids are sick.”

Ms Gillahan's daughter wrote on Facebook that her death was an “unimaginable loss”.

“She had a beautiful soul – loving, strong and always thinking of others before herself,” Rosalina Gillahan wrote. In another post, she simply wrote: “We love you mom.”

Another victim, Mr Yowell, worked as a chemist for AES and lived in the nearby town of Waverley with his wife and son, according to WellSpring Christian Church.

They “were longtime members of WellSpringers before moving to Waverly several years ago,” the church said in a Facebook post. “Please lift them up in your prayers.”

Another of those killed in the explosion, Mindy Clifton, worked 20 years in corrections before moving from Florida to Tennessee to take a position at AES, according to her former colleague Matt Reinhart.

“During my 30-year career in corrections, I have had the privilege of working with many outstanding people. One of the best was Mindy Clifton,” Reinhart wrote on Facebook.

He asked everyone to remember and pray for her loved ones as “we come to terms with this heartbreaking loss,” he wrote.

Local news station WSMV reported that LaTeisha Mays was 26 years old and had worked at AES for eight months before she was killed in the explosion. The family called her “the glue” that held them together.

Her former classmate Tyler Bailey paid tribute to her on Facebook, writing Monday that “she was the sweetest soul in school, always smiling, laughing, trying to make others laugh and just being so caring.”

Tiffany Storey, who attended the vigil for the victims, told the BBC she used to look after one of those killed in the explosion, Rachel Woodall.

“Everyone knows everyone here,” Mrs. Story said. “Because everyone is so close, it’s really nice to have a family. [by] blood, not blood, this whole community is family.”

Woodall began working as a production manager at AES about a month before the explosion. She lived in McEwen and graduated from McEwen High School in 2016.

Jeremy Moore celebrated his 17th anniversary with the company in March, according to an AES Facebook post.

His mother Ava Hinson called for prayer when she didn't hear from her son after the explosion. On Monday, after authorities confirmed Mr. Moore was among the dead, she posted a tribute online, also confirming his death.

“Well, I heard it straight from Sheriff Davis, so I guess it’s time for me to believe it. Jeremy Moore from 10-20-87 to 10-10-25. Rest in peace my sweet baby,” she wrote. Moore died 10 days before his 38th birthday.

Trenton “Trent” Stewart lived in Waverly, where he also attended high school. According to his Facebook account, he worked in production at AES.

Mr. Stewart also worked as a firefighter for the Waverly Department of Public Safety and served as pastor at the Log Church.

He has live-streamed his sermons on Facebook and wrote in early October that his goal as a pastor “is not to have the biggest crowd or to be the most perfect person, but to show the love of Christ in every way possible through our church and my personal ministry.”

Over the weekend, after nearly two days with no sign of survivors (and the blast site still considered dangerous for first responders), the once-optimistic Sheriff Davis said it was time to switch to a recovery strategy rather than a rescue operation.

The plant in Bucksnorth, Tennessee, about 56 miles (90 km) southwest of Nashville, specializes in the development, production, handling and storage of explosives.

Video from the scene shows charred wreckage, smoldering cars and little left of the site except ruins.

The explosion was recorded as a magnitude 1.6 earthquake, according to the US Geological Survey.

A statement posted on the AES website said emergency response teams and investigators remain at the scene investigating the incident.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, colleagues and community members affected by this incident. We extend our gratitude to all first responders who continue to work tirelessly in difficult conditions,” the company said.

With additional reporting by Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu in Tennessee.