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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)

NUNNELLY, Tenn. – Just miles from a rural Tennessee plant leveled by a devasting explosion , the congregants of Maple Valley Baptist Church devoted Sunday's service to the 16 deceased victims and their families.

Several of the dozens of people praying at the small church knew someone who worked at the plant owned by Accurate Energetic Systems, which supplies and researches explosives for the military and is a well-known employer in the area.

“There’s a somber kind of vibe right now in the community just because it’s so many lives that have been affected by

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