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by WILL FOLKS
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Hundreds of thousands of South Carolinians heard – and felt – a massive boom and subsequent shock wave emanating from the Midlands region of the Palmetto State on Thursday afternoon (May 28, 2026).
The phenomenon – believed to have been caused by a meteor – was observed shortly before 5:24 p.m. EDT, and was felt as a shock wave by multiple FITSNews employees at our headquarters, located approximately ten miles northwest of downtown Columbia, S.C.
At numerous locations across the Midlands, reports of an “explosion” and subsequent pressure wave poured in – with residents in at least four counties describing the impact of the phenomenon.
“It shook my entire house,” Forest Acres, S.C. resident Amelia Sjodin said.
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As of 6:30 p.m. EDT, no official explanation had been provided by any entity as to the origin of the phenomenon, which was heard and felt as far away as Florence, S.C.
Multiple state and local law enforcement agencies have confirmed to FITSNews that there was no “active scene” associated with the phenomenon, while military officials at Fort Jackson were every bit as mystified as the public at large.
Officials with the S.C. Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) told us they were investigating the phenomenon.
“SCEMD is working to determine the cause of the reported boom,” agency spokeswoman Tiffanie Barrett told us.
Officials at the National Weather Service (NWS) in Columbia, S.C. noted they “heard and felt the boom.”
Local meteorologist Chris Jackson posted the following video depicting the sound and subsequent shock wave…
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Got some video with sound of the boom from my friend Ryan Turiak’s camera on top his hanger at Hamilton-Owens Downtown Airport in Columbia.
— ? Chris Jackson ? (@ChrisJacksonSC) May 28, 2026
Definitely not an earthquake. #sctweets pic.twitter.com/zZhMa3sf12
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“Whatever that was had a pressure wave with it,” Jackson noted. “It hit me in the chest.”
Speculation initially centered around a possible earthquake, although the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) did not report any seismic activity in the area at the time of the blast.
Jackson also noted the nature of the “pressure wave” accompanying the boom all but ruled out an earthquake.
“That shockwave that you felt was the pressure wave which is why I can say with 99% certainty this wasn’t an earthquake,” he wrote on X. “It felt like someone shoved me right in my chest an instant before the boom began.”
Additional videos of the boom and shock wave reinforced this description…
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— Hannah Crumpton (@CrumptonHannah) May 28, 2026
TURN UP THE VOLUME! This is what many said they heard across the Pee Dee and Midlands earlier this afternoon. Still trying to figure out what it was. It wasn't an earthquake and likely not sonic booms from planes (felt over too vast an area). Could it have been a meteor?… pic.twitter.com/bB8YVi4YWF
— Ed Piotrowski (@EdPiotrowski) May 28, 2026
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This is a developing situation… please check back for updates.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.
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