A 50-year-old woman was injured Saturday in Narragansett, R.I., (pictured) when an explosive detonated on Salty Brine Beach. Authorities believe the explosive was planted and began a search for the suspect. Photo: Joseph Sohm / Shutterstock

NARRAGANSETT, R.I., July 11 (UPI) -- Authorities are investigating an explosion that injured a woman on a Rhode Island beach Saturday -- a blast they say came from beneath the sand.

The explosion happened on Salty Brine Beach in the town of Narragansett, 30 miles south of Providence, at around 11:15 a.m. local time Saturday. Police evacuated the beach as the bomb squad checked the area, ABC News reported.


The injured woman is 50 years old, Rhode Island CBS affiliate WPRI-TV reported, and was thrown by the blast onto some rocks of a nearby jetty.

The injured woman's condition wasn't immediately revealed but WPRI-TV reported she was conscious during transport to the hospital.

Authorities still don't know what caused the explosion but did say it originated beneath the sand. Investigators are looking for a suspect they believe planted something in the sand and fled up the beach, the Providence Journal reported.