'It's heartbreaking' Residents react to explosion at General Dynamics facility near Camden | KLRT

CALHOUN COUNTY, Ark. — Wednesday was chaotic for many Calhoun County residents after authorities said an explosion left two people injured and another missing.

Authorities said the explosion occurred at the General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems plant east of Camden, which produces and stores military munitions.

“They're doing everything they can, but something went wrong this morning,” Calhoun County Judge Floyd Nutt said.

According to the company, two people were injured in the explosion and another is missing. Ouachita County Medical Center officials confirmed they treated one person in the emergency room and transported another to Camden Municipal Airport to be flown by medical plane out of Arkansas.

“It’s heartbreaking,” said Calhoun County resident Allison Stevens Gosselink. “We’re thinking of everyone involved.”

Residents of nearby Hampton say this is the second tragedy they have faced recently, as the Mad Butcher in Fordyce is their closest grocery store.

“Everybody here knew at least one person who was in this area when the shooting happened and this morning it's a lot of tragedy in a short period of time,” Gosselink said.

Nutt said the investigation into what happened is being conducted at the county level.

“I know they're going to get to the bottom of this,” Nutt said. “It's terrible. I'm sad that it happened and I hope it doesn't happen again.”

General Dynamics officials have not commented since Wednesday morning. They said they would provide more information as it became available.