Apparent Bomb Explosion Injures Woman on Rhode Island Beach

The beach was being evacuated this afternoon as members of the state bomb squad opened an investigation. Witnesses said an explosion ignited from underneath the sand and flew a woman into the rocks. That woman, an unidentified 50-year-old, was taken to South County Hospital, according to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.

Rayna Maguire, A spokeswoman for DEM environmental enforcement, said there were no other reported injuries.

A day earlier, “suspicious” fires engulfed three commercial fishing vessels at the Galilee state pier. When asked if this apparent explosion had any connection to those fires,  Sgt. Thomas Silvia, of DEM environmental enforcement said, said that report would be investigated.