(MENAFN) Nineteen individuals are either confirmed dead or missing following a powerful blast that demolished a building at a military explosives facility in Tennessee on Friday morning, local authorities reported.

Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis addressed the media Friday afternoon, stating, "I can tell you that we're missing 19 souls," according to media.

The explosion occurred around 7:45 a.m. local time (1245 GMT), Sheriff Davis revealed earlier at a news briefing. "We can confirm that we do have some that are deceased."

Hickman County Mayor Jim Bates informed media that at least 13 people remain unaccounted for in the wake of the disaster.

The affected site belongs to Accurate Energetic Systems, LLC, situated southwest of Nashville, Tennessee. The company specializes in manufacturing military explosives, as confirmed by the Humphreys County Sheriff's Office.

David Stewart from Hickman County Emergency Services told media that officials have yet to determine "the extent of damage or injuries."

Numerous agencies have mobilized to the scene to evaluate and manage the situation. However, due to fears of secondary detonations, responders are maintaining a safe distance from the immediate area, the sheriff’s office said.

Among the agencies on-site are the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Sheriff Davis added.

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