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Plant Owned by Company that Handles Military Grade TNT, C4 Erupts in Blast; Government Shutdown to Stretch into Next Week; Official: 19 Killed in Blast at Tennessee Explosives Company; TN Officials Give Update on Deadly Blast at Explosives Company. Aired 3- 3:30p ET

Aired October 10, 2025 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: And the White House making good on its threat to federal workers. On the 10th day of the shutdown, it is carrying out layoffs. Some employees originally furloughed are now fired.

And the ceasefire taking effect in Gaza, U.S. troops arriving in Israel to help monitor the deal. The clock is ticking on a deadline for Hamas to release its hostages.

We're following these major developing stories and many more, all coming in right here to CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

Now to the breaking news, officials say multiple people were killed and others are still missing at this hour after a devastating blast in an explosives facility in Tennessee. It's an explosion that rattled nearby homes southwest of Nashville several miles away. And here is a side-by-side view of what the facility looked like before on the left, then on the right, what it looks like now. It's really just unbelievable destruction.

Local, state and federal agencies are on the scene. They're sifting through debris. The facility belonged to Accurate Energetic Systems, LLC, which is well known in the explosives industry for manufacturing military-grade TNT and C4, among other products. CNN's Ryan Young is staying on top of developments from Atlanta for us.

Ryan, are we getting any clarity about how this may have happened?

RYAN YOUNG, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's the part that we're still working toward and hoping to get more information during that news conference. It could happen at any moment at this point. The sheriff did indicate earlier that they wanted to be very particular about the information that was released, because obviously in a small community like this, so many people in that area know folks who work at this facility.

But when you see the pictures like this one, it is just jaw-dropping to see the explosion and the aftermath that's left behind. Both Hickman and Humphreys counties are involved in this. When they first arrived on scene, there were secondary blasts. They had to stand back.

At this point, we know that three patients have walked into a hospital, but we haven't heard of any other people transported to the hospital as of right now. The mayor indicated with you about an hour ago that 80 employees work at this facility, not sure who was on staff or who was on shift at this point, so you don't want to speculate about that part, but we know military-grade explosives were kept in this area, and they were worked on from time to time.

In fact, take a listen to the mayor as he talked to us a short time ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR JIM BATES, HICKMAN COUNTY: It is unknown at this time what caused this blast. You know, it -- it's going to be an investigation that's probably going to go on for days. You know, the -- this -- this facility, they do manufacture not only military but demolition explosives, you know, to -- for road work and things like that as well. They're not -- they're not just strictly military.

But I will say this that, you know, that that -- this investigation is going to go on for some time, I'm sure.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

YOUNG: Brianna, when you look at those side-by-side pictures that we were able to put up with the Google Earth, it really shows you how that complex used to sit in a certain area. Then, you look back at the new pictures, it's just really amazing to see what that explosion has done here. We know that cameras as far as 11 miles away picked up this blast.

We do have a CNN crew on the way to the scene right now who's tracking all these developments and hope to get more information. But the ATF, Homeland Security, the TBI, all rushing to this scene to help out with this. Of course, this large explosion happened around 7.45 a.m. this morning, and it rocked so many homes in that area. Of course, our hearts go out to the folks who worked at that facility, hopefully within the next 45 minutes or so, we're able to learn more information from the sheriff and federal authorities as they get to the scene there.

Those secondary explosions, we're told, have calmed down at this point, but obviously a dangerous situation.

KEILAR: Yes, it certainly is. All right, Ryan, we'll be waiting for that with you. Thank you for the latest. Erica?

ERICA HILL, CNN HOST: Well, after three weeks of threats, the Trump administration now making good on those threats, and it has begun layoffs, we're told. A short time ago, a Department of Education spokesperson telling CNN that some of its employees will be impacted. The Department of Health and Human Services targeted employees that it deemed to be non-essential for its layoffs. CNN National Affairs Correspondent Jeff Zeleny has a closer look at who will be impacted here, including the impact on military families. They are about to deal without having a paycheck.

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BASHTYE BAILEY, NAVY WIFE & VETERAN: We're very stressful, and honestly, I pray that it doesn't roll into those many days this time around.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Bashtye Bailey is thinking back to the last government shutdown and counting the days until her family's military paycheck may stop again.

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BAILEY: We got paid on the first and we'll see what happened from here on out, but there's already a strain there.

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ZELENY (voice over): A navy wife and a veteran herself. Bailey is standing in line at a food bank for military families, where demand is rising, as the shutdown stretches into its second week.

[15:05:05]

The U.S. government is the economic lifeblood of Hampton Roads, Virginia, with 10s of thousands of active-duty military, shipbuilders and civilian contractors. Here, fallout from a shutdown is more practical than political. Richard Maigue is already frying up fewer smash burgers at Kitchenfinity, the restaurant he and his wife own just outside the world's largest naval station.

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RICHARD MAIGUE, OWNER, KITCHENFINITY: I think they're looking at, hey, I don't get paid in the next week or so. Where do I put those funds? Everyone needs to eat but they could probably try to maybe cut corners somewhere.

MARICEN CORRALES, OWNER, KITCHENFINITY: Yeah.

MAIGUE: Yes, that'll affect us.

CORRALES: But tomorrow, we don't know what is our business -- how -- how we're able to survive, really, you know? We don't have any customers coming in.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY (voice over): For this region alone, economists estimate the impact of a month-long shutdown at a billion dollars.

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BOB MCNAB, CHAIR, DEPT. OF ECONOMICS AT OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY: If you think about how much the federal government occupies a role in our economy, $4 out of every $10. You can see how a prolonged shutdown will have dramatic impacts upon families' finances, but also our ability to function as a region.

ZELENY (on camera): How are you?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY (voice over): The blame is more immediate.

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EVELYN ANDERSON, VIRGINIA VOTER: I think it's Trump and the -- and the Republicans, because the Republicans are the ones that's agreeing with him, the yes people that's agreeing with him.

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ZELENY (voice over): And there's plenty to go around.

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GRACE COOK, VIRGINIA VOTER: The government shutdown is the Democrats, okay. That's a shimmer shutdown.

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ZELENY (voice over): When President Trump visited here on Sunday to mark the Navy's 250th anniversary, he offered this promise.

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TRUMP: We will get our service members every last penny. Don't worry about it. Don't worry about it.

FRAIZER: I think we're going to get a broccoli.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY (voice over): But back at the food bank, Kady Frazier is worried for her husband, a navy technician and their children.

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FRAIZER: We get paid every two weeks. So, yes, that one -- if we don't get paid after that, it can start to become a real stressful situation. We will struggle, so.

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ZELENY (voice-over): Bailey worries, too, amid frustration and disappointment at another impasse in Washington.

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BAILEY: I really hope that a resolution is -- is found quickly. ZELENY (on camera): Life is stressful enough without having to think about your paycheck.

BAILEY: Absolutely.

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ZELENY (voice-over): Her family's next paycheck is one week away or whenever the shutdown ends.

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ZELENY: Okay. Take care.

BAILEY: Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: Yes, that whenever the shutdown ends is certainly tough for so many families, Jeff. And also, we're just learning about these layoffs that have started now within the federal government. Do we have any sense at this point, we know they're substantial, but who or where is being impacted the most?

ZELENY: Erica, it is an open question. Of course, the furloughed workers are the ones we're talking about in terms of the ones who will be laid off. Different from the military families we spoke to in Virginia, but equally concerned because the paychecks were scheduled to start today for civilian workers. The military paychecks come next Wednesday. Neither will come.

But as for those furloughed workers, the layoffs, we do not know what agencies they are coming from, but the director of the Office of Management and Budget, he tweeted out earlier saying the rifts have begun. Of course, that's reduction in force.

This is what the White House has long been threatening, mass layoffs, but it's unclear how widespread they actually are. Also, it's unclear how employees are even going to find out because they're not supposed to be even checking their email when they're furloughed from work. But it is -- there's been some worry among some Republicans, how many mass firings they actually want to do. Does that complicate the message here?

So going into the weekend, again, not good for federal workers. As the shutdown is likely to head into a third straight week, the House and Senate are back home. They're not in Washington this weekend and so there's no end to the shutdown in sight.

HILL: Yes, definitely not in the -- in the coming few days, that's for sure. Jeff, appreciate it. Thank you.

ZELENY: Sure. HILL: Still ahead here this hour, a U.S. official says American troops have now begun arriving in Israel. They will be there to support, to help support, monitor the Gaza ceasefire deal that is now officially in effect. A closer look at that and much more ahead on CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:13:16]

HILL: We are continuing to follow the breaking news out of Tennessee. Multiple people believed dead. A number of others remain missing. This following an explosion at a munitions plant in rural Tennessee about an hour southwest of Nashville. The blast rattling homes in the area and also setting off secondary explosions which forced rescuers to keep their distance from that debris field. As you can see, we're waiting on an update from local officials at any moment.

KEILAR: And look at what is a side-by-side image of the before and after of the explosion. You can show -- records show that this company, and this is the building, one of the buildings of the campus of this company, Accurate Energetic Systems, has been awarded numerous military contracts over the years to manufacture a variety of munitions and explosions.

But there on the left, you see the building from right above and on the right, you can see it just, it no longer exists. We've seen in pictures that all you can see is a parking lot and even that is in bad shape at this point. We're joined now by Thomas Chittum, a retired ATF Associate Deputy Director.

Thomas, those pictures I think really drive home, and we're seeing here even now this appears to be some kind of -- what -- what appears to be a dumpster, and it is warped like a child's toy. I mean, what -- what kind of force are we talking about when we are talking about an explosion like this?

THOMAS CHITTUM, RETIRED ATF ASSOCIATE DEPUTY DIRECTOR: Yes. So, my heart goes out to the victims, their families and that community. The devastation from this explosion is considerable. The building was absolutely shattered, and that actually gives some indication of the nature of the explosion, that it had to be very fast.

[15:15:00]

The initial activities of the authorities will, of course, be attempts at rescue and recovery and also ensuring that public safety is not threatened. The sheriff has reported that there does not appear to be a continuing public safety threat, but rescue and recovery has been complicated by secondary explosions caused by the fires going on there. So, this is a really challenging scene.

HILL: You talk about those secondary explosions. We were hearing about some of those initially, to your point, hampering first responders being able to get closer. This seemed a little bit more clear now, but -- but we had also talked about how first responders in the area would have likely been trained for an event like this as part of the safety protocols at this facility.

CHITTUM: That's right. A facility like this is subject to a lot of regulation and reporting, and so the authorities in that area definitely know the nature of the materials that are stored there. By now, they certainly have detailed information from the company, and that can help. Nonetheless, trying to suppress fires when you face the potential additional explosions is daunting, and that time matters.

Of course, you look at the scene, and it will be difficult to see how many people survived if they were near the seat of that blast.

KEILAR: Yes, I think, Thomas, that's really it, and that's why there's so much sensitivity from officials around this, right? It's a tough scene to survive, and to that point, we've heard of very few people being treated for injuries, and those injuries are minor, right? So that may tell us something about what we are expecting to learn here. Can you talk to us a little bit about the sensitivities around that, and as these officials are trying to figure out exactly what they're dealing with in -- in a situation where there is so much force?

CHITTUM: Well, when I was at ATF, I investigated industrial explosions, and very often there are survivors that are wounded that can provide meaningful information to investigators to identify, say, the preliminary cause of the accident. But in this sort of scene, it does not seem like there is much of that, so this is really tough.

This is a small community too, so I can only imagine the anxiety from the people in that area.

KEILAR: Yes, no doubt. Lots of folks there connected to this company, and this is just one small building on that campus.

Thomas, thank you so much for that.

To our viewers, we are watching and waiting for this update there in Tennessee. We are going to have a quick commercial break, and we'll bring this to you as soon as it begins.

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[15:19:35]

KEILAR: Let's go to Tennessee for an update on this explosion.

SHERIFF CHRIS DAVIS, HUMPHREYS COUNTY, TN: That we're looking for. So, excuse me, I ask you to keep in mind those families. This is probably one of the most devastating sites, I think, Sheriff Craft and I was talking about. It's probably been one of the most devastating sites, I think.

[15:20:06]

Sheriff and I -- Sheriff and I -- Sheriff Craft (ph) and I was talking about -- it's probably been one of the most devastating situations that I've been on in my career. As far as the scene goes, we do feel that the scene is secure. We have ATF, FBI that are handling the scene as far as the investigative part, trying to figure out and recreate or figure out what actually happened to cause this.

Do I see a short-term explanation? No. Do I see us being here for many days? Yes, I do see that. We've got also -- we got the bomb squad from Metro Bomb Squad here. I don't really want to get in to start naming all the agencies. I'm scared I'll miss somebody. We've got TBI, Bomb and Arson here. They're all working together. It's one of the things that I'm very happy to see is -- is all of these agencies, it's not just one, but that we've come together and we're making the very best team effort that we can to move forward.

Please keep in mind that we -- these families, you know, I've said it up front, I said it to start with, that's where our thoughts and prayers need to go right now. And we've just got to take one day at a time or one hour at a time. We're processing things. We're finding out more information. We're trying to figure out, you know, maybe the cause of this.

There's not going to be a short explanation for that. I know I'm -- I'm -- may have repeated myself there a little bit. Forgive me, but we're all tired and trying to put together the best effort we can and remember the families and who we're working for.

I do want to touch on Accurate Energetic. They are here with us. The facility is here with us. They have discontinued operations. They're focusing on their families, their employees. They're focusing on the -- the next things that they need to do to try to make everything best for their people. We've got critical incident folks on the scene. I'm just sitting here trying to think through the scene.

You know, we've got the critical incident people here for the families as well as some of the first responders. For those of you that don't know, it was about 7.45 A.M. this morning that this explosion happened. We had a really amazing response from the first responders' fire. And here again, I -- I commend those first responders, because it was multiple jurisdictions. They -- they worked together. They got the situation under control very quickly and safely.

And when you see or when you pull up to the things that they were seeing and doing and having to do at the time, they've done very, very well. And anybody have any questions?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sir, you mentioned the word souls earlier. Can you tell us how many people have lost their lives?

DAVIS: I can tell you that we've had -- there are fatalities. Do I want to put a number to that? Because I always -- and those of you that have known me in the past, always wish for the best. Is there a possibility that somebody might be injured somewhere or somebody that we don't know about? Yes. I can tell you right now that we're looking for 19 individuals. And a lot of times when I have these types of situations, I refer to them more than just a person. They're a soul to me.

So, we're trying to -- we're -- I can tell you that we're missing 19 souls right now. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sheriff, I was -- sorry -- Sheriff, I was wondering

how many people were working at the time and how many people were taken to the hospital.

DAVIS: I don't think -- there was, I think, four to five individuals that was taken, maybe even by POV. I can't talk about the ambulance part of that. And forgive me for some of those early questions and not being able to answer them. We've concentrated so hard on getting the scene secure, getting things moving, taking care of basically the security, getting the personnel that we need here that I can't answer some of those early questions. So, forgive me for that. I don't want to give the appearance that I'm avoiding that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Have you had a chance to see the building and can you describe it?

DAVIS: Can I describe the building? There's nothing to describe. It's gone. It's -- again, it's the most devastating scene that I've seen in my career.

[15:25:05]

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sheriff, do you know what kind of work they did in that building specifically?

DAVIS: I do not, ma'am. I -- I do not. I'm not familiar with day-to- day operations of that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I see a lot of family members that are waiting. Are they waiting for confirmation about if their family member is missing or what communication are you having with them right now?

DAVIS: We have -- we have communicated with the family. We have -- we've done it twice. We wanted to get some solid information because we were sliding a little bit in information that we were receiving and from past experience from the flood and those kind of things that we wanted to make sure that we had the information, the correct information that we needed to talk with.

So, yes, we have spoken with families. Again, Accurate Energetics is taking care of those families and trying to do everything that we can to comfort them and get them the information as quick as we have.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know it's early in the investigation, but does it appear as accidental or intentional?

DAVIS: I can't answer that. You know, we're -- we -- and it's something -- that's a good question. And the reason I say that's a good question, you -- you know in law enforcement, we have one opportunity, and that's the reason why you see a lot of things that we have to do in law enforcement. We have to make the worst assumption. We have to make that and prove it away that it is an accident.

So, we only have one chance at the evidence. We only have one thing or one chance to be able to do the things that we need to do, and we're going to be slow, methodical, and diligent and do everything that we can to make sure this is what it is. And there again, we're working for those families and -- and those -- and those people that were in that building to make sure we get, if they deserve justice, we want to be in a situation that we get them justice and that's how we have to approach these situations.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And there was another report that there was a destructive explosion in 2014 in the same building that was operated by Rio Ammunition. Can you confirm that and tell me if there's some kind of crime going on?

DAVIS: Rio was on the -- Rio was on the facility. That did happen here. I was here during that time. I don't believe it was at that current facility at all. Yes, ma'am, you have a question.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That was my question is. Do you have any information about any previous explosion at this facility?

DAVIS: Well, see, you have to remember there's -- this is a huge compound, and there's a couple of different businesses that may operate within this facility. So, I don't want to get in too much into the operation of the facility because there -- they are a very delicate operation, and we have to maintain that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sheriff, I had heard some comments earlier about fallout outside the campus area from the blast early on.

DAVIS: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is that something you can confirm?

DAVIS: There may be some debris that went over the fence. I don't think it went too far ...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Okay.

DAVIS: ... from the point of the property lines, and there may be some debris that's on another property here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sheriff, the -- you said the scene was secure. Does that mean it's stable and first responders have been able to access it?

DAVIS: It -- it means that the -- that the scene is stable, the ATF and the FBI are on -- on that. They are methodically moving through the location of the explosion.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sheriff, I know -- I'm not sure if you know this, but was -- at 7:45, was the plant up and running or were people just arriving for work? Do you have any idea?

DAVIS: I believe the plant was up and running.

Last question.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Have you been able to speak to any families directly? And if so, what are you telling those families?

DAVIS: We have spoken to the families directly, and we told them that we're going to be very transparent with them and get them the information and try to answer every question that they have the best we can. It's -- again, it's going to be a very slow process. Sheriff Craft (ph), do you want to add anything?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I agree.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) ...

DAVIS: May I ask you a favor?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

DAVIS: Would you repeat that louder, please?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of different departments have shown up here. Did you guys contact them or did they contact you?

DAVIS: We contacted them. I think Sheriff Craft (ph) and I both got information about this very quickly. I don't mind telling you, from the prior experiences here with the Rio and the questions that you all had, I immediately picked up the phone and -- and called Commissioner Long (ph), and I said, this is what I've got, this is where I'm going, because we are in a bad cell range, we are in a -- a bad location. And Commissioner and I are personal friends, and he helped me get the -- the agencies here that we needed, and rapidly. So, that was one of the things that I was very -- I'm thankful to him for that and that relationship as well.

All right. Last question. I think I might have said that. Anybody?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, Sheriff, I'm curious. I mean, after Waverly, I mean, another tragedy, I mean, just talk about the beginning, but just how are you feeling? I mean, how is the community feeling after another tragedy like this?

DAVIS: My friend, I -- I can't answer that, and forgive me for -- for saying that. I can't answer that right now, because he and I and the -- the people from this facility, Mr. Stinson (ph), we've concentrated so much on what is here right now and getting this stable, secure, and taking care of the people here that I hadn't been able to have any kind of feedback from the community.