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An explosion at a General Dynamics facility in Arkansas has injured at least two people and left one individual missing.
The incident occurred at the General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems facility east of Camden.
According to Arkansas Advocate, General Dynamics is a defense company that produces aircraft guns, missiles and a variety of ammunition.
“As of 2020, it was the fifth-largest defense contractor in the world by arms sales, and fifth largest in the United States by total sales,” Wikipedia states.
– An explosion occurred at a defense plant in the United States.
An emergency occurred in Arkansas at a plant of the military and aerospace equipment manufacturer General Dynamics.
The facility handles explosives and also stores various types of ammunition, including… pic.twitter.com/5Fm0BzRK68
—
The Informant (@theinformant_x) July 3, 2024
Arkansas Advocate reports:
The explosion occurred around 8:15 a.m. Wednesday near Camden, a city of about 10,000 people in Ouachita County. One person is known to have been transported in an ambulance dispatched from El Dorado, which is about 35 miles south.
Information at this time is limited. A spokesperson for General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems said the company was working with first responders and cooperating with authorities during an investigation. An update is expected Thursday, spokesperson Berkley Whaley said.
Whaley described the incident as one “involving pyrotechnics,” and later confirmed it was an explosion. She did not clarify where in Camden’s nearly 900,000 square-feet manufacturing and storage space the explosion occurred or describe any damages.
#UPDATE We just arrived to the exterior gate at @GD_OTS in Ouachita County where 2 were injured, 1 is missing following an 8:15 AM explosion. Not much can be seen from outside. No entry and news is being asked to stay off the property. @KARK4News: https://t.co/FWnplgD05q pic.twitter.com/xqiS2Qm1aG
— Neale Zeringue (@NealeZeringue) July 3, 2024
“I’m aware of the incident at the General Dynamics facility in Camden. My team is in contact with local officials and we will continue to monitor the situation. My prayers are with those who were impacted,” Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) said.
I’m aware of the incident at the General Dynamics facility in Camden. My team is in contact with local officials and we will continue to monitor the situation.
My prayers are with those who were impacted.
— Rep. Bruce Westerman (@RepWesterman) July 3, 2024
Per FOX 16:
According to the company, two people were injured in the explosion and one is missing. Ouachita County Medical Center officials confirmed they treated one in their emergency room and transported another to the Camden Municipal Airport to be med-flighted to receive treatment outside of Arkansas.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Calhoun County local Allison Stevens Gosselink said. “We’re thinking about all those involved.”
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