Oxford residents had been left bewildered and alarmed as an enormous explosion lit up the night time sky, accompanied by a towering fireball.
The incident unfolded throughout a thunderstorm, resulting in hypothesis {that a} lightning strike might have triggered the dramatic occasion.
Eyewitness accounts
As the town’s night time sky was momentarily remodeled right into a blazing spectacle, eyewitnesses shared their accounts on social media.
Equipment Yates, an area resident, captured a video of the mysterious occasion and contemplated, “Noticed this unusual pulsing sky out of our home windows wanting northwest of Oxford. I am guessing it is a fireplace attributable to the lightning storm that handed over.”
Kidlington resident Mahmet Ciftci described his expertise, saying, “Simply noticed one thing right here in Kidlington that appeared like an explosion within the distance. We heard a rumble like thunder and noticed flames within the distance. The horizon went orange for some time.”
Thunderstorm and meteorological components
The timing of the explosion coincided with a Met Workplace yellow climate warning for thunderstorms and heavy rain over Oxfordshire.
Stuart Reid advised a lightning strike close to Oxford (A34) because the potential trigger, remarking that it struck one thing that then burst into flames.
Affect on surrounding areas
Residents in close by areas had been additionally affected by the highly effective thunderstorm.
Ana Cavey, who resides in Somerton, roughly 15 miles north of Oxford, recounted her terrifying expertise, saying, “We have had essentially the most unbelievable thunder and lightning storm ever… it got here out of nowhere, and the noise was unbelievable.”
The facility outage ensuing from the storm left many at the hours of darkness, with Joshua Bull noting, “Undoubtedly some type of explosion – sounds prefer it’s out close to Yarnton? Should have been large, I am in Marston and thought it was a automobile crashing outdoors my flat.”
Whereas investigations into the incident are ongoing, Oxford residents proceed to grapple with the aftermath of the unanticipated explosion and fireball that briefly remodeled their night time sky.
Hypothesis abounds as to the trigger, with a lightning strike throughout a thunderstorm rising as a number one concept.
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