‘It felt like an earthquake’: South L.A. residents describe firework explosion that left 16 injured

An attempt to detonate thousands of pounds of illegal fireworks seized from a South Los Angeles home ended in an explosion that left at least 16 people injured Wednesday evening, authorities said.

“I didn’t think it was a firework. It sounded more like an earthquake,” said a South L.A. resident who asked only to be identified as Kenri. “I’ve never felt a firework like that, shakes the whole house.”

The Los Angeles Police Department planned to detonate the fireworks in one of their bomb squad vehicles, when the explosion took place.

“It sounded like an explosion but it felt like an earthquake,” Jazmin Vasquez, a South L.A. resident, told KTLA.

The vehicle was destroyed, local business shops had windows shattered and at least 16 people were injured in the explosion, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

The 16 victims were taken to a local hospital to be treated.

They included nine LAPD officers, all in fair condition with minor injuries; one officer with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, who was transported in fair condition with minor injuries; 6 civilians, 3 of whom have serious injuries and 3 with minor injuries, according to LAFD.

Check back for updates to this developing story.