What caused the loud boom? Residents react to shaky moments

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Here comes the boom! Last night people reported hearing a loud boom and feeling the ground shake.

“It was a big boom,” Southport resident Ricky Vance said.

Mysterious booms have happened along the coast for decades, but some said this one was a little different.

Vicki Baird lives in Caswell Beach and compared it to a small earthquake.

“More intense, it was a lot louder and before when I felt it what they call the Seneca? What do they call them, Seneca Guns, anyhow it’s always I’ve been on the beach you hear it, your first thoughts always they’re doing something at one of the military bases or whatever. But this literally shook everything,” Baird said.

She might be right. Camp Lejeune Public Affairs confirms the base is currently conducting artillery training exercises at sea with the Navy. They were doing this at the time of the boom.

But some still are not sure what the noise was.

“The first time we heard it we really thought the terrorist are here, something’s going to get us. But then after speaking to several of our friends we figured out it is some kind of boom that occurs in the water.” Oak Island resident Sandra Cheek said.

“I heard this big boom and shutter and I actually thought something hit the building, like a car ran into it or something,” Baird said.

Something out there caused the ground to shake whether it was the mysterious Seneca Guns or military training, we might not ever know for sure.

Sunny Point Public Affairs confirmed they were not doing any training last night.

No damage or injuries were reported during the boom.