#21: Boston Observer, April 24, 2008

Neighborhood explosion likely caused by natural event, official say

By Christopher Sawye, Boston Observer
April 24, 2008

Experts from the US Geologic Survey released a report today linking a possible geologic event to the explosion in Datchet. Philip O’Keefe, Professor of Geology at UMass, says the devastating damage to the Oak Circle neighborhood was most likely caused by a hydrothermal explosion.

Hydrothermal explosions are caused when superheated water makes its way to the earth’s surface causing a violent eruption of steam, mud and stone. Geysers act in the same fashion but have a release opening at the surface level.

Initial speculations linked the blast to a ruptured gas line or chemical explosion from one of the homes. When no such causes were found, experts looked into outside factors.

“Our initial thought was that this was caused by a meteor exploding in the atmosphere above the homes,” said O’Keefe. “However, the relatively untouched tree in the middle of the cul-de sac where the children were found made us revisit that theory.”

Due to the localized nature of the blast, it is believed that neighborhood may lay on weak point of the Earth’s crust making it more susceptible to geothermic events.

Pending further investigation, Oak Circle has been placed under restricted access.