It wasn’t an earthquake that hit South Carolina, but here’s what caused rumbling
Although many people in South Carolina’s Midlands region reported hearing loud noises and feeling powerful shaking Tuesday morning, an earthquake was not the cause.
The booms near Sumter were caused by ordnance disposal conducted by the U.S. military, according to Shaw Air Force Base officials.
Reaction to the noises and vibrations was so widespread that Air Force officials briefly disregarded the government shutdown to let the public know what was really happening.
“Due to public concerns we are issuing this public statement regarding explosive noises heard in the community,” Air Force officials said on social media. “The 20th Civil Engineering Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight is conducting training at the Poinsett Electronic Combat Range in Wedgefield, S.C. ... Community members may hear loud explosions in the area throughout the duration of this training.”
The training is scheduled for Tuesday and again Wednesday, officials said. Information about the exact timing of the bomb disposal was not available.
More information about the training likely won’t be available on social media.
“This page is still affected by the government shutdown and posting will be limited to emergency and mission-critical notifications,” Air Force officials said.
But those with questions can call the 20th Flight Wing Public Affairs office at 803-895-2019.
“That’s a normal occurrence with their training and exercises,” a spokesperson with Sumter County Emergency Management told The State.
The South Carolina Emergency Management Division confirmed that the loud noises and vibrations were not caused by seismic activity.
“USGS has not reported any earthquakes (Tuesday) in South Carolina,” a SCEMD spokesperson told The State.
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This story was originally published October 21, 2025 at 1:17 PM with the headline "It wasn’t an earthquake that hit South Carolina, but here’s what caused rumbling."
