At least 19 people are feared dead after a massive explosion ripped through a military munitions plant in the US state of Tennessee.

The plant exploded on Friday morning (local time) at Accurate Energetic Systems in McEwen, about 80 kilometres west of Nashville.

By Friday evening, 18 people remained missing, according to the Humphreys County Emergency Management Agency.

Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis confirmed there were “some” fatalities but declined to specify how many.

Authorities said the blast levelled the facility and sent debris flying across the surrounding area.

“This is one of the most devastating situations I’ve ever been part of,” Sheriff Davis said during a press update.

He added that search and rescue teams are still “exhausting every asset” to locate survivors.

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