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Israeli Troops Pull Back in Gaza; Trump Administration Begins Firing Federal Employees; Interview With Hickman County, Tennessee, Mayor Jim Bates; Deadly Blast at Tennessee Military Explosives Company. Aired 1-1:30p ET

Aired October 10, 2025 - 13:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[13:00:00]

BROOKE ZAUGG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FAITH AND MEDIA INITIATIVE: So it's proven through many, many studies that it actually contributes to a better well-being overall, including the loneliness and kind of depression that comes with that, yes.

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CNN NEWS CENTRAL starts right now.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: A devastating blast at a military explosives company in Tennessee, the local sheriff's office confirming multiple deaths and saying that several people remain unaccounted for.

And a cease-fire in Gaza, as Israel pulls out some of its forces and Palestinians stream back to their homes. And now the clock is ticking on a deadline for Hamas to return hostages to Israel.

ERICA HILL, CNN HOST: Plus, the shutdown layoffs now under way, the White House beginning to lay off federal workers, as the crisis stretches into its 10th day with no solution in sight.

We're following these major developing stories and many more all coming in right here to CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

KEILAR: We begin this hour with breaking news and what is truly an apocalyptic scene in Tennessee.

Crews are responding to a powerful blast at a military explosives facility in the town of McEwen. Officials say that a number of people were killed in this, that others are missing. It's an explosion that shook homes miles away in the small rural community west of Nashville. Video from a man's doorbell camera captured the moment that it happened.

Officials are set to give an update on the situation here shortly, but, in the meantime, let's bring in CNN's Ryan Young.

Ryan, what do we know?

RYAN YOUNG, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, this is about an hour outside of Nashville. This happened around 7:48, as you saw in that camera that we just saw from the Ring doorbell.

But this blast was immense. When you look at the video from above, you can see just barely anything left. When I called the EMS to talk to them about this, they were telling us that crews initially couldn't even -- had to stand back to respond because there were secondary explosions. You just look at the rubble there, the cars that have been twisted and pretty much blown apart, some still on fire.

This explosion rocked the area. Just hearing from people saying they felt the blast from more than a couple miles away, you understand just the ferocity of this explosion. But when you look at it, you just see how devastating it is. We have confirmed from the sheriff that there are multiple fatalities.

No count given just yet, as they're trying to make sure not only is everyone accounted for, but they have to make those painful phone calls to family members who obviously know that their loved ones went to work today and then had this explosion happen.

Both Hickman and Humphreys Counties are working on this. We know the ATF and bomb arson units from the TBI are there as well, this explosion happening just around 7:48. But listen to what the sheriff said just about 20 minutes ago about this blast and where they are right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRIS DAVIS, HUMPHREYS COUNTY, TENNESSEE, SHERIFF: I don't want to put that kind of information out there right now because we are vetting that. We have had to -- we have had such a massive response that now we're trying to slow down, identify things.

And for those of you that was around me during the flood, we had some mistakes during the flood of some things that was put out there as names and numbers and that kind of thing. And I don't want that today. We're trying to be very methodical in what we're doing and making sure that we take the time to recognize and find out each and every one of these individuals and their family.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

YOUNG: Brianna, you understand there's going to be a complex investigation with such a large scene like this, but you also want to get it right when you have people's families involved, so you understand the sheriff taking a beat.

We do know there should be a news conference within the next half-hour or so. So we hope to bring parts of that to you live as we learn more information. But, once again, first responders had to stand back for a little while as these secondary explosions happened. The best vantage point so far has been from above, where you see these

scenes that we're looking at right now, just horrific, as this community, small community deals with this blast that apparently took the lives of several of the workers. We will have more for you soon -- Brianna.

KEILAR: All right, we will be looking for that.

Ryan, thank you for the latest.

Let's bring in the mayor of Hickman County, Tennessee, Jim Bates. That is one of the counties where this site is sitting on. He's with us by phone.

Mayor, thanks for being with us here.

I know they're trying to work out the numbers of this. Can you give us a sense of just how many people were working in this facility in what is really quite a small town?

[13:05:05]

JIM BATES, MAYOR OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENNESSEE: Thank you for having me on.

As far as the amount of employees there, I know the entire facility has approximately 80 employees. However, we do not at this time know how many were -- may be involved in this blast. You know, it's a big facility. It's confirmed that there is one building that was completely devastated. But at this time, there -- where I am unknown and unaware of how many were in that building.

KEILAR: Mayor, can you give us a sense of how connected this facility is to that community, how many people in that community are employed here, and how much this is touching people in that community? I'm assuming everyone knows someone who's being affected here.

BATES: Yes, ma'am.

Like, this facility actually straddles two different counties. It's on the county line between my county, Hickman County, and Humphreys County. And, as you saw earlier, the Humphreys County sheriff was there giving a interview. There is a lot of the employees from -- that do work there are from these two counties.

They do a lot in our community as far as, you know, helping others. So yes, it's just -- it's pretty devastating to see this.

KEILAR: What are you hearing from families where you are?

BATES: Well, I have not had much contact with the families. As a matter of fact, I'm fixing -- I'm about to drive out to the scene, because I had to mandate my office this morning, so -- and then field any calls that were coming in.

We have had some families call us. We have gave them instructions as to what to do and where to go. And that's the way we're trying to handle this.

KEILAR: Do they have a place where they're going to get information? How are they being treated and communicated with at this point?

BATES: Well, like I say, I'm not at the scene. Sheriff Davis from Humphreys County, when he gave his interview, there are -- there is a place at the scene, not right there where the explosion took place, but right there on the facility grounds, where the families can go and be able to have someone talk to them, yes.

KEILAR: Can you talk to us about the questions that are being asked, even if they're not being answered at this point in time? This is obviously a military explosives company. It seems pretty evident that something exploded that was not supposed to.

Is there any indication of what may have caused that? And tell us just about the questions being raised about that.

BATES: Well, there's a lot of questions about that. It is unknown at this time what caused this blast. It's going to be an investigation that's probably going to go on for days.

This facility, they do manufacture not only military, but demolition explosives to -- for roadwork and things like that as well. They're not just strictly military. But I will say this, that this investigation is going to go on for some time, I'm sure.

KEILAR: And that certainly makes sense that that is going to take some time.

Have there been any issues with safety in the past?

BATES: No, ma'am. I know, back in 2014, there was a small ammunition explosion there. But that was in 2014. It was handled real well. It was just -- I don't even remember what caused that.

KEILAR: Yes, and any concern about secondary explosions? Obviously, as officials there trying to get a handle on just the scope of this, is there anything preventing them from doing that with -- when it comes to concerns about other dangers?

BATES: Well, they're working with the best possible folks that they can work with that know everything there is to know about explosives. They're all out there at the scene right now.

I keep getting updates a little bit here and there. Like I said, we're going to now a regular, hourly, I believe is what they told me, updates, so that we can keep people informed as to what's going on. As far as any hazardous materials being spread through the air or anything, I'm unaware of any of that.

KEILAR: All right.

Mayor Bates, we're so sorry. We can see the scene. And, as you say, there's 80 employees. We know that this is really touching the communities there in these two counties. And we certainly appreciate you updating us. We will let you go now so that you can go there to the scene.

[13:10:08]

BATES: Absolutely. Thank you.

KEILAR: Thank you, Mayor -- Erica.

HILL: Also with us at this hour, Jim Maxwell. He's a retired FBI special agent and bomb tech.

Jim, good to have you with us.

I mean, those pictures are just devastating when we see them. What we learned from the mayor there and what we know about the company, the fact that this company makes military and demolition explosives, there were these secondary explosions at one point, as Ryan was reporting. What does that tell you in these initial moments about what may have happened?

JIM MAXWELL, FORMER FBI SPECIAL AGENT BOMB TECH: Well, first of all, my heart goes out to the families and the employees at this company. This is a devastating event.

And I think it's safe to say that, if they're both manufacturing military, as well as commercial explosives, that these are high explosives, material that moves faster than 3,300 feet per second. So, military explosives can move anywhere from 18,000 to 23,000 feet per second.

So this -- when this type of energetic material ignites, it has devastating effects. But, right now, I think the biggest issue is the health and safety of the first responders, is making sure that the area is safe to enter.

You have reports of secondary explosions. You also have to consider how much other material that has not been initiated is stored there and is it in danger of igniting it also? So there's a lot of questions that have to be answered. And even approaching a scene like this is extremely dangerous and difficult.

HILL: It's such an interesting point about knowing where everything is.

So, the mayor just telling Brianna that one building was completely devastated. For a facility like this, would there be initial plans kept somewhere off site in the event of a tragedy like this so that any crews, any first responders going in would know what they were dealing with ahead of time, meaning they could look at the plans, they would have a clear understanding of what was housed in what facility?

MAXWELL: Well, without knowing specifically, I think that would be a prudent approach.

Any facility that's manufacturing materials like this should have an emergency action plan and should be able to coordinate instantaneously with local fire assets. So, yes, I'm sure that the local fire department is well aware of what was there and certain contingencies were probably in place.

But without knowing the specifics, I'd be guessing right now. But that would be a prudent thing to have that as part of your emergency action plan for a facility like this.

HILL: As we look at this, you noted obviously the concerns for first responders who are arriving at the scene there, concerns about secondary explosions, knowing where other material may be.

What about environmental concerns at this point for both those who are responding and for people in the area?

MAXWELL: Well, I think that's definitely something that's going to be considered. But it's, I think, something that has to be evaluated well after the fact.

Right now is trying to get in there and determine if they can deal with whatever is initiating this explosion, make sure that the material that hasn't ignited is safe or can be stored someplace else. There's a lot of logistical questions that have to be answered here.

So the environmental issues are something that, yes, will eventually have to be addressed, but they're not a priority right now.

HILL: Right, but there are some in the initial -- right, just in terms of the gear that folks would need going in for their own safety in this moment as well.

Jim, really appreciate you joining us and appreciate your expertise here. Thank you.

MAXWELL: Oh, absolutely. You will have to establish a perimeter and a hot zone, an inner zone, and establish an area that everybody can work safely. So that's the major undertaking of the first responders right now is how to set up a command structure and direct people so the problem can be addressed efficiently.

HILL: Yes, absolutely. Jim, thank you.

And, also, for anyone who's just joining us, I do want to let you know we are standing by for a press conference. Again, we're following this update from an explosion at a plant that made both military and, we're told, demolition explosives in Tennessee.

We do know that there are fatalities. Waiting for that update from officials. We will bring that to you live as it happens.

We are also following the breaking news out of Washington. The Trump administration says it has now begun firing federal employees, as the government shutdown is now in its 10th day.

[13:15:09]

More on that after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: We have breaking news off of Capitol Hill on the 10th day of the government shutdown. The director of the Office of Management and Budget says federal firings are now under way.

Russ Vought just tweeted the following one-line sentence. He said "The RIFs have begun." It's, of course, an acronym that means reduction in force or terminations.

CNN's Arlette Saenz has the latest from Capitol Hill.

Arlette, what can you tell us?

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brianna, this marks a significant escalation in the government shutdown fight, as President Trump is now making good on his threats for potentially conducting mass layoffs within the federal work force if this shutdown dragged on.

[13:20:14]

Now, we're still learning to -- trying to learn exactly how many federal workers will be impacted by these layoffs. But an OMB spokesperson said that the number is expected to be substantial. The White House at one point had previously floated that layoffs could potentially number into the thousands.

So we will work to learn more about who is exactly impacted. But the White House had made clear going into this that the programs that they would target would be ones that did not align with President Trump's priorities. And he has said time and time again that any cuts that they will be making will be to Democratic programs.

But this comes after Trump had really held off for a little bit of time in enacting these mass layoffs. There have been Republicans up here on Capitol Hill who have warned of the political perils that mass layoffs could have relating to their federal work force. And so, still, there's a lot to learn about who exactly will be impacted.

But this is just another point that Republicans are trying to make as they're trying to exert greater pressure on Democrats to change their mind on their approach to the shutdown.

KEILAR: And, Arlette, today marks the first time that many federal employees begin seeing the impacts of the shutdown on paychecks. So, of course, members of the military are poised to begin going without pay next week.

SAENZ: Yes, Brianna, many federal workers started to see smaller paychecks today. And October 15 is a date that we have all been keeping our eye on. That is the first check that members of the military will miss if this shutdown drags on.

Right now, the Senate is out of session until early next week. So it does not seem like there is going to be an immediate resolution to this issue. Now, House Speaker Mike Johnson has been facing some pressure to bring up a stand-alone bill that would guarantee pay for the military as this shutdown continues.

There are over 100 House Republicans who have signed on to a stand- alone measure on that matter. But the speaker told me earlier today that he does not plan to bring that up. Take a listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA): We have already had those votes. We have done that. We did it three weeks ago. The Republican Party stands for paying the troops. The Democrats are the ones that are demonstrating over and over and over now, eight times, that they don't want troops to be paid.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: Now, the speaker also told reporters that bringing up a vote on a stand-alone bill to fund military pay would be a pointless exercise because he said the votes just aren't there in the Senate.

But we have been talking to lawmakers from both chambers who have said that they would like to see action on this, as those military families are bracing for missed paychecks starting next Wednesday.

KEILAR: Yes, I have been talking to military families who certainly do not feel that it is pointless. They would love to see how people would vote on that.

Arlette Saenz, live for us on the Hill, thank you.

And next: It is a sight deemed unbelievable just weeks ago, Israeli troops withdrawing from the Gaza Strip. A cease-fire with Hamas is now officially under way. And we're live in Israel right after this.

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[13:27:35]

HILL: Eight hours now into the cease-fire in Gaza and the window for Hamas to return all hostages is now open. Hamas was given a 72-hour deadline. Today is looking more likely that they will in fact wait through until Monday.

Earlier, Israeli police confirmed they are also preparing for President Trump to visit on the same day. As the cease-fire began, thousands of displaced Palestinians also began moving, many of them passing by ruins along the coast as Israel's military began pulling back troops.

After two years and three days, 48 hostages remain in Gaza. At least 20 are believed to be alive. Today, the family of one hostage describing a -- quote -- "unbearable state of uncertainty" regarding his fate.

CNN's Wolf Blitzer is live this hour in Tel Aviv.

Wolf, what else are you hearing from people on the ground as they continue to wait here for that news?

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Well, here in Tel Aviv, Israelis are very, very hopeful that this is going to be the real deal, that the remaining Israeli hostages, both alive and dead, will be coming back. And they're pretty hopeful that this is an important, wonderful sign for those hostage families who have been protesting for days and weeks and months about what's going on.

So we will see how this all unfolds. It's not a done deal until it's a done deal. We will see what's happening.

Erica, I want to bring in Clarissa Ward, who's been here in Israel for several days now.

You have been watching all of this unfold. It's pretty amazing the change in mood that we have seen this time, as opposed to the previous times over these past two years that you and I have been here in Israel.

CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We have both spent a lot of time here since October 7, and it is a completely different feeling. There is a palpable lightness in the air.

You are seeing these incredible scenes of jubilation, not just from the hostage families themselves, but also former hostages who have been released, who have been campaigning tirelessly around the clock to see their fellow hostages released, and, in general, the Israeli public, many of whom, Wolf, are just so ready and desperate to be able to close a very dark and troubling chapter.

At the same time today, Wolf, we have been seeing these, frankly, biblical images coming out of Gaza, as people literally stagger back to what remains of their homes in the northern part of the enclave, where they are finally now able to return to six hours into this cease-fire.

And I think the mood is very different there. Yes, there is palpable relief that this perpetual bombardment of the last two years is finally over.