By ADRIAN SAINZ
Associated Press
OAKLAND, Tenn.

A series of explosions have ripped through a munitions plant in the West Tennessee town of Oakland, killing one person.

Ed Gaugh, emergency management director for Fayette County, said a 34-year-old male employee died in the blast and subsequent fire Wednesday afternoon at the Kinematics Research plant, which makes bullets.

Witnesses said debris shot into the air during several explosions covering 30 minutes.

Gaugh quoted company officials as saying five people were in the plant at the time around 1:45 p.m. CST.

Gaugh said the fire was controlled some 90 minutes later. The cause remained unclear.

The company, which has been in business since 1992, makes new and remanufactured ammunition for firearms. The company's phone line was busy Wednesday afternoon.

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