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Investigators tread carefully at charred Tennessee explosives plant as families of 16 blast victims learn of their loss

The families of 16 victims killed in a devastating blast at a Tennessee explosives plant have been notified of their loss, as investigators methodically work to clear the scene and gather evidence to determine what caused the tragedy in the tight-knit community.

In the coming days, authorities will slowly work their way through the debris-ridden plant “foot by foot,” ensuring each area of the site, approximately half a square mile, is safe for those at the scene.

“We’re at a snail’s pace,” Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said Sunday. The meticulous and dangerous work of clearing each foot of the site and recovering the remains of the victims is physically grueling for workers, he added. There may still be explosives that need to be detonated and recovered.