People were evacuated from a beach in Rhode Island as a bomb squad was sent in to investigate an explosion which injured a 50-year-old woman.
The cause of the explosion, which occurred at Salty Brine beach, remains unknown.
"We believe there had been a small explosion, sub-surface, that erupted out of the sand and virtually caused one of our beach patrons to ultimately fall backwards and forwards," causing the woman to land onto the rocks on the jetty, said Rhode Island Natural Resources Management associate director Larry Mouradjian in a press conference.
Rhode Island Environmental Police acting chief Kurt Blanchard said that there has been no evidence that the explosion was caused by an explosive device, suggesting that the incident could have been manmade or it could have natural causes.
The incident is still under investigation by the authorities, which includes the bomb squad and the office of the fire marshal of Rhode Island. The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is also involved in the investigation.
Mouradjian said that the injured woman was alert and conscious after the incident, but there were no further details regarding her condition. No other beachgoers were reported to be injured in the incident, but the Salty Brine beach was evacuated and declared to be off-limits due to the incident for the rest of the day.
According to the Providence Journal, Mario Lewis, who was collecting crabs near the area, said that the explosion was like a grenade when it happened, knocking over a woman that was standing around 3 feet away from him.
Lewis added that he did not see smoke or any debris as a result of the explosion.
According to Mouradjian, his investigation of the site of the explosion looks similar to when lightning strikes the beach, which is something that has happened previously in the area.
Heavy equipment was sent to the preserve the site of the explosion before the tide rose, for the ongoing investigation to continue.
Local radio program host Dave Dean, who was at the beach during the time of the incident, said that there was a low sound of rumbling like a small tremor, and 20 minutes later, the beach was being evacuated. When Dean walked over to the site of the incident, it looked it a sink hole.
