Oxford residents were left both bewildered and alarmed as a massive explosion lit up the night sky, accompanied by a towering fireball. The incident unfolded during a thunderstorm, leading to speculation that a lightning strike may have triggered the dramatic event.
Eyewitnesses took to social media to share their accounts of the spectacle. Kit Yates, a local resident, captured a video and speculated that it might have been a fire caused by the passing lightning storm. Kidlington resident Mahmet Ciftci described seeing something resembling an explosion in the distance, accompanied by a rumble like thunder and flames.
The occurrence of the explosion aligned with a Met Office yellow weather alert for thunderstorms and intense rainfall in Oxfordshire. Stuart Reid proposed the possibility of a lightning strike near Oxford (A34) as a potential trigger, theorizing that it might have struck an object, resulting in subsequent flames.
The powerful thunderstorm also affected nearby regions. Ana Cavey, living in Somerton approximately 15 miles north of Oxford, described an intense thunder and lightning storm that seemed to appear out of nowhere. Many experienced power outages due to the storm.
As investigations into the incident continue, Oxford residents are left grappling with the aftermath of the unexpected explosion and fireball that briefly transformed their night sky. Speculation surrounds the cause, with a lightning strike during a thunderstorm emerging as a leading theory
