A huge explosion near the Navy Yard southeast of Washington, D.C., rattled windows, set off car alarms, and was heard and felt nearly two miles away Sunday night, according to reports. Officials blamed it on a large illegal fireworks installation.
screen image via Twitter/Suzanne Youngblood Lane.
Photos taken at the scene showed a medium-sized crater at the Canal Park ice rink, with nearby glass barriers blown out. No injuries were reported, but nerves were affected throughout the area.
First eyewitness reports were of car sirens going off and people running after hearing the explosion, “Explosion at Naval Base? … Car sirens going off. Saw several people running from Canal Park towards NJ Avenue”
The car alarm goes off.saw some people running from canal park to jersey avenue
— Jeffrey Pincus (@jpincus14) January 2, 2023
Video taken shortly after the blast showed smoke rising and car alarms going off.
— SJB (@DCSloth) January 2, 2023
Smoke from the Navy Yard explosion. Pray everyone is ok! https://t.co/QfMngApaGt pic.twitter.com/VhysWtq3n9
— Susan Youngblood Lane (@SuzYoungblood) January 2, 2023
The site of the Navy Yard DC explosion. Happened in the Wiseguys Pizza building on 2nd, M. Boom shook my apartment a few blocks away and set off a lot of alarms. Hope everyone in the area is okay. @PoPville pic.twitter.com/g1UuKZItrm
— Charlie Feinman (@CharlieFein) January 2, 2023
Photos from the scene showed the damage appeared to be out of proportion to the loudness of the explosion.
The loud explosion was heard and felt by many neighborhoods in and around the Navy Yard neighborhood, leaving a hole in the ice and broken glass of the Canal Park skating rink. Police have just cordoned off the area. pic.twitter.com/ixHTa988I7
— Maureen Cohen Harrington (@VeganSkaterDC) January 2, 2023
According to firefighters, a large firecracker:
The culprit was what the firefighters at the scene concluded in their professional opinion to be “a big fucking firecracker.” pic.twitter.com/D3XCWpsf1d
– Jerry Christmas 🎅🏼🎄 (@JerryDunleavy) January 2, 2023
The Navy Yard explosion was someone dropping a bomb on the ice at Canal Park. A piece of glass shattered, leaving a large hole in the ice. No one is hurt. @PoPville @theHillisHome pic.twitter.com/6ozWY5S7vK
— NavyYardParking (@NavyYardParking) January 2, 2023
DC Fire and EMS reported, “Box Alarm 3rd & L St SE heard explosion and possible structure fire. Unit is at ice rink scene with haze and broken glass. No signs of fire. Further investigation.”
Box Alarm 3rd & L St SE for hearing explosions and possible structure fires. The unit was at the ice rink site, where there was haze and broken glass. No sign of fire. Further investigation. #DCsBravest
— DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) January 2, 2023
The explosion was loud enough to be heard and felt throughout Washington.
Yes, I heard the explosion at Kingman Park. shook my house. #DC @theHillisHome @popville
— Phil Abbott (@philliefan_99) January 2, 2023
I heard what sounded like an explosion and I’ve been on the SE DC side across the river. what is that? !
– ✨Caitlyn✨🏒#ALLCAPS🦅 (@schiavonihockey) January 2, 2023
There appears to have been some sort of explosion just now, probably in the Navy Yard/Canal Park area. Hear it loud and clear at Hill East/Kingman Park. oops. Hope people are ok.
— Brian Rhoda (@bryan_in_dc) January 2, 2023
The Huge Explosion at the Navy Yard Is Now Crowded in Our Basements
– Vanessa Burden 👋🏽 (@vanessaburden_) January 2, 2023
Explosions, possibly from SE DC, were heard across Capitol Hill.Every @dcfireems: “The unit is at the scene of the ice rink, where there is haze and broken glass.”
— Douglas Blair (@DouglasKBlair) January 2, 2023
“Explosion in Naval base area. Unknown cause. My house is about 2 miles away and I heard it loud and clear – even felt some shock waves. Must have been scary.”
There was an explosion in the Navy Yard area. unknown reason. My house is about 2 miles from there and I heard this loud and clear – even felt some shock waves. It must have been terrifying. https://t.co/IgoFNut1Qy
— Brian Rhoda (@bryan_in_dc) January 2, 2023
“A loud explosion was heard and felt in many neighborhoods in and around the Navy Yard block, leaving a hole in the ice and broken glass at the Canal Park rink. Police have just cordoned off the area.”
The loud explosion was heard and felt by many neighborhoods in and around the Navy Yard neighborhood, leaving a hole in the ice and broken glass of the Canal Park skating rink. Police have just cordoned off the area. pic.twitter.com/ixHTa988I7
— Maureen Cohen Harrington (@VeganSkaterDC) January 2, 2023
good question. “When did firecrackers become bombs?”
“When did firecrackers become bombs?”
The quake was reported to have been felt in Trinidad.
Saw people fleeing Canal Park.
Powerful explosion.. Terrible start to the new year pic.twitter.com/mzXVIREQW2– Navy Yard Crime (@NavyYardCrime) January 2, 2023
Maybe the FBI is doing some field training for the next J6 pipe bomb incident?
UPDATE: DC Police statement: “ALERT: MPD responded to reports of a large explosion at M St SE 200 blk park. Officials have determined that a large firework was thrown on the rink and then went off. No injuries reported .(1/2)…Fireworks damaged ice and shattered a piece of safety glass at the edge of the rink. Officials are investigating the incident. Anyone with information or potential video of the incident please call 202-727-9099 or text Letter 50411. (2/2)”
The fireworks damaged the ice and shattered a piece of safety glass at the edge of the rink. Officials are investigating the incident. Anyone with information on the incident or potential video please call 202-727-9099 or text 50411. (2/2)
— District of Columbia Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) January 2, 2023
