OBED LAMY and SOPHIA TAREEN.

Congregants stand outside Maple Valley Baptist Church in McEwen, Tenn., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, about 3 miles from Accurate Energetic Systems, an explosives plant where a blast Friday killed 16 people. (AP Photo/Obed Lamy)

Community near site of deadly Tennessee plant blast recalls the lives of the 16 killed

Churches near the site of a devasting blast at a rural Tennessee plant devoted Sunday services to the 16 victims and their families as surrounding communities mourn. Several congregants at nearby Maple Valley Baptist Church in Nunnelly worked at Accurate Energetic Systems. The company supplies and researches explosives for the military and is a well-known employer in the area. The cause of Friday’s blast remained under investigation. Crews were cautiously going through the incinerated property, searching for possible evidence. Authorities warned of smaller controlled explosions on Sunday as they dispose of hazardous materials.

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