BUCKSNORT, Tennessee — Sixteen people missing after a massive explosion at a munitions factory in Tennessee are presumed dead, authorities said Saturday, as recovery teams continued to search the devastated site.

Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said it was initially hoped that survivors might still be found, but as of Saturday evening, “it’s safe to assume they are deceased.”

Authorities had earlier feared that 18 people were killed, but two individuals believed to be at the site were later located unharmed, Davis added.

The explosion occurred Friday at the Accurate Energetic Systems (AES) plant in Bucksnort, about 90 kilometers (56 miles) southwest of Nashville. The facility specializes in the development and manufacture of explosives.

Video footage from the scene showed fires burning, black smoke billowing, and debris scattered for half a mile around what remained of the building. Several vehicles were charred, and the main structure was completely destroyed.

More than 300 state and local first responders have been involved in the search since Friday morning. “The expectation of anyone who’s inside that building... we can assume that they are deceased,” Davis told reporters, adding, “As we get into this, we find it even more devastating than we thought initially.”

By Saturday morning, the operation had shifted from rescue to recovery. The FBI is assisting with rapid DNA testing to identify victims, while the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating the cause of the blast.

Sheriff Jason Craft of neighboring Hickman County said efforts were now focused on supporting victims’ families. “We’re trying to focus as much attention as we can on taking care of their families,” he told the BBC.

AES has suspended all operations at the facility. The plant previously suffered a fatal explosion in 2014.

Local residents described the blast as terrifying. Ann Myers, who lives nearby, said her camper shook violently, and the power went out. “It was the weirdest thing ever,” she said. “At first, I thought maybe it was a tornado or a truck crash. It was very frightening.”

Justin Stover, whose home borders the AES site, said his house “shook like the loudest thunder you’ve ever heard,” and he saw a large cloud of smoke rising from the plant. “Things fell off the wall, items fell off shelves,” he said.

Stover, who has lived in Bucksnort for 20 years, said AES employs about 80 workers and is one of the few local employers. “There’s a lot of people we know who worked there and possibly lost their lives yesterday morning,” he said.

Residents as far as 25 kilometers (15 miles) away reported hearing the explosion, which rattled homes and windows across the area. “It will definitely impact the community,” said Lucy Garton, whose husband knows people employed at the plant. “It’s a very close-knit place — people just go to work, take care of their families, and live simply.” — BBC