Metro

Huge fireworks blast rattles Bronx

A massive explosion rocked the Bronx tonight when a box of fireworks detonated in Pelham Bay Park at about 11:15 p.m., an FDNY spokesperson said.

The explosives were in a garbage pail that was left on a pitcher’s mound on a baseball field in the park, law enforcement sources said. The pail was turned to shrapnel in the blast, but there were still a number of unexploded fireworks left scattered around.

““These were high grade professional fireworks, very strong fireworks,” an NYPD source said.

Residents throughout the borough reported hearing the blast.

Many ran into the streets to see what was going on.

It was not clear why the explosives went off, but there were no reported injuries.

Houses as far as a block away from the park suffered shattered windows.

“There was shaking, just crazy shaking, I heard a loud boom, two of the windows on my house cracked,” said Nick Pjetromi, 37. “We were all scared, especially my kids.”

People took to Twitter to report hearing the blast from as far away as Glen Cove on Long Island.

Early this morning police could still be seen searching the area. While officials suspected the explosives were fireworks, they could not say who set them off.

Police took the unexploded fireworks to the NYPD firing range and detonated them.

The blast was so powerful it broke these windows in nearby house.William C. Lopez