16 people believed dead after explosion at Tennessee plant, sheriff says

Sixteen people are believed to have died in a powerful blast at an explosives plant in Tennessee, officials said Saturday, as crews continue to recover remains and carefully clear the site

Sixteen people are believed to have died in a powerful blast at an explosives plant in Tennessee, officials said Saturday, as crews continue to recover remains and carefully clear the site.

Initially there were 18 people said to be unaccounted for after Friday morning's explosion at an Accurate Energetic Systems facility that processes ammunition and explosives.

Two of those people were determined to have not been at the facility, which is located near the city of McEwen, at the time of the explosion, officials said. The error was because their vehicles and personal items were found after the explosion, Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said.

Davis said at a Saturday evening news conference that more than 300 people have been through the site.

"At this time, I can tell you that we have not located any survivors. And we are making the assumption that all are deceased," he said.