Blast at munitions plant near East Camden injures 2 people

A spokesperson for General Dynamics confirmed that two people were injured and one person is missing after an explosion Wednesday morning at its Ordnance and Tactical Systems facility at the Highland Industrial Park, to the northeast of East Camden.

Berkley Whaley, the spokesperson, said in a phone call that the explosion occurred around 8:15 a.m., and was related to “pyrotechnics” and then clarified that that meant explosives. Whaley declined to share more information, including whether the facility had been damaged, citing an ongoing investigation, although she said the company is working with first responders.

Floyd Nutt, county judge in Calhoun County, said he did not know much about the incident, adding that before the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s conversation with Whaley, county personnel were not being allowed onto the premises by General Dynamics. Nutt said that he had not heard from anyone at General Dynamics.

It is unclear whether that had changed between when the Democrat-Gazette spoke to him and when a reporter spoke with General Dynamics.

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