That was no 'meteorite' in Louisiana

Authorities initially speculated a meteorite may have shook the ground for miles in portions of northwest Louisiana late Monday night, but the mystery blast turned out to be an explosion at an industrial site in the area.

The blast occurred about 11:30 p.m. inside a bunker where explosive black powder was stored at Camp Minden in Webster Parish, according to the Webster Parish Sheriff's Office.

No injuries were reported.

Deputies said the bunker was designed to absorb and deflect such an explosion.

Minden is the Webster Parish seat.

Residents said they heard a loud boom at the time of the explosion. The blast shook their homes and rattled windows as if an earthquake had struck. Many residents reported seeing a fiery object in the sky, according to several media reports.

It appeared the blast sent a fiery plume or object into the air, officials said.

Investigators were trying to determine what caused the explosion.

Officials initially said they did not know what caused the blast and said a meteorite may have hit. Once they inspected the area, they saw where the explosion happened.

dale.lezon@chron.com

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