MCEWEN, Tenn. (Story courtesy of WVLT / WSMV) – Two weeks after a deadly explosion at a Tennessee munitions plant, officials gathered to release new information — including the origin of the explosion — while emphasizing that their work is far from over.

Investigators said during Friday’s press conference that between 24,000 and 28,000 pounds of “high explosives” went off during the explosion in Accurate Energetic Systems’ 16,000 square-foot building near the border of Humphreys and Hickman Counties.

Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said the remains of two of the 16 victims have still not been located, and officials have been in discussions with both of their families. Hickman County Sheriff Jason Craft asked residents to pray for the families impacted by the blast, as well as for the crews responding to the tragedy.

“It really saddens me that we still have two souls that we have not been able to locate at this point,” the sheriff said.

The ATF Special Agent Jamie VanVliet, in charge of ATF’s Nashville Field Division, shared that the origin of the explosion was found on the production level, which was on the plant’s first floor.

The agent stated that the investigation is far from over, as the ATF labs and testing labs are where the investigation will be moving to.

“Answers that are proven, not guessed. Until that time, until information is confirmed, I will not speculate on the cause of the explosion, or comment on a potential cause,” VanVliet said.

Crews have “spent nearly every daylight hour” on the scene for a total of 12 days, following up on 290 leads and 277 reports of their investigation thus far, authorities said Friday.

“Additionally, during the last days of the call-out, the leads desk received over 14,000 documents from accurate energetic systems that were preliminarily reviewed,” ATF Special Agent Bryce McCracken for ATF’s National Center for Explosives Training and Research said.

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He also noted that crews were able to safely dispose of almost 1,000 pounds of undetonated explosives in the weak of the tragedy.

During the Friday morning press conference, the ATF confirmed that the munitions plant would be inspected by the bureau under the Safe Explosives Act.

“Under the Safe Explosives Act, all explosives licensees are inspected every three years. So that is routine, yes,” the ATF special agent confirmed. “As any explosives licensee, they fall under those restrictions. However, to discuss details of prior inspections, I’m unable to do that.”

It was also confirmed that the initial explosion occurred in production kettles, and afterward, there was a detonation of other explosive materials stored on the main floor. Those kettles were used to make cast boosters that are used in commercial mining.

“We know nothing we do can take away the pain of the precious lives lost. No investigation, no report, no determination can erase that. It is our hope that finding answers will be a step toward helping this community begin to heal,” VanVliet said.

What else has happened since the explosion?

$12 million wrongful death lawsuit filed

In the week following the explosion, attorneys representing the 9-year-old daughter of Jeremy Moore announced the filing of a wrongful death suit.

The lawsuit accuses the AES facility’s owner of being responsible for the explosion due to gross negligence, and it requests up to $12 million in compensatory and punitive damages.

The suit is directed at AAC Investments, LLC. According to state business records, the McEwen business was first filed in 1980 and is registered under John Sonday, whose address is the same one listed on the AES website. Records from January say that the LLC has two members.

Nearly $50K raised for victim families

An outpouring of support has streamed in for the victims’ families in the week since a deadly explosion in Tennessee.

No survivors were found after an unexpected blast at Accurate Energetic Systems a week ago. In the days after, a GoFundMe was established to support those grieving the 16 killed in the tragedy.

That fundraiser has received hundreds of donations, exceeding $46,000 as of Friday evening. It is just shy now of its $50,000 goal.

Accurate Energetic Systems and the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee also opened up a fund in the wake of the blast to support victims and the community. Contributions to the AES Families support Fund will “help meet immediate needs first, such as funeral expenses, medical care, housing and food assistance. Contributions will also be used to offer long-term support,” the organizations said.