Residents across Abbotsford were posting on social media that they heard three or four bangs that were loud enough to shake some houses at about 12:15 p.m. today and then again at about 1:40 p.m.
The noises were from police in Whatcom County disposing of expired explosives, according to Lt. Bob Vander Yacht, with Bellingham Police.
Vander Yacht said they did not realize the sound would carry over the border and alert Canadians.
He said, in the future, Bellingham Police would be sure to notify Canadian authorities before undergoing more explosive disposal.
Online posts indicate that the bangs could be heard everywhere from Sumas Prairie in the east to the Mt. Lehman area in the west. One Mission resident even reported hearing the sounds.
The posts speculated that the sounds could have been anything from an earthquake to thunder.
“I heard three huge bangs and my house shook. I’m on Trethewey,” stated one online post.
Said another: “We heard four booms and house shook a little. So weird.”
“I’m just off Ware Street and hear a bunch of loud banging type sounds. Thought it was thunder,” stated another post.
In 2012, similar louds bangs that were reported in Abbotsford on Oct. 31 were traced back to the U.S. Air Force, which was doing some testing with some form of explosives south of the border.
The agency did not notify Abbotsford authorities ahead of time.
Watch abbynews.com for more information as it becomes available.