Another earthquake near D.C. that wasn't: Scientists now believe shaking was caused by Md. explosion

A loud boom and shaking heard and felt by hundreds of residents across New Castle County Wednesday morning – which scientists initially said was an earthquake – was likely caused by a Maryland explosion, scientists now say.

The confusion began around 11:30 a.m., when residents in New Castle, Pike Creek, Hockessin and Newark began posting on social media what they heard and felt. Others in Wilmington also reported they heard a bang.

Initially, Delaware Geological Survey scientists said they believed the noise and shaking was an earthquake, given a 2.1 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter near Clarksville, Maryland, was reported early Wednesday morning. Clarksville is about 6.2 miles southwest of Columbia, Maryland.

The U.S. Geological Survey's earthquake tracker website classified that earthquake as "weak" to "light." It was about 2.1 miles (3.4 kilometers) deep.

But that earthquake was reported just after 2 a.m., and wouldn't have been felt around 11:30 a.m. – when Delaware residents began reporting shaking. Still, Delaware geologists thought what was heard and felt was an earthquake.

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