Locals feared they had experienced an earthquake after a gender reveal party that involved 80lbs of explosives rocked towns in two states on Tuesday evening.
The blast shook entire towns on the New Hampshire-Massachusetts border, with police in one town receiving emergency calls from terrified homeowners.
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They were called out to a quarry where a family had set off the Tannerite explosive with blue chalk, to celebrate the fact they were having a baby boy.
The substance is sold over-the-counter.
The unnamed person who bought and set off the explosives turned themselves in and is co-operating with police in the investigation.
Police said the family had permission from the quarry owners and believed it to be the safest spot.
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Locals said that the foundations in their houses were damaged, with the shockwaves reportedly rattling properties for a 20-mile radius.
One resident, Sara Taglieri, lives near the quarry. Speaking to NBC 10 Boston, she said: "We heard this god-awful blast.
"It knocked pictures off our walls ... I'm all up for silliness and what not, but that was extreme."
Graham Pellerin, Kingston Fire Chief, said the fire department had a report of cracked foundation, but there were no other signs of damage to the house.
It's not known if charges will be brought against the family.
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The story is the latest in a string of gender reveal disasters, after a man died in February while he was making a device for his pregnant partner's gender reveal party.
New York State Police explained how they were called to a Liberty property following reports of an explosion.
They discovered Christopher Pekny, 28, died in the blast, which also injured his younger brother.
Authorities said nothing suspicious was found during their investigation and they don't plan on laying any charges.
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"This incident remains under investigation by the New York State Police and the New York State Police Bomb Disposal Unit," they said in a statement.
They also didn't explain what type of device was being built for the gender reveal party.
Also in February, a man in the US state of Michigan died after a gender reveal party trick went horribly wrong.
Evan Silva, 26, was part of the assembled friends and family waiting to find out the gender of a baby outside a house.
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The cannon, which was to signal which gender the baby will be once it is born, exploded unexpectedly, sending dangerous shrapnel flying in all directions.
Silva was struck by shrapnel in his chest, which is thought to have been what killed him. The accident took place on Saturday 6 February.
Topics: US News