By John Howell Sr.
Something went “BOOM!” Pictures on walls and windows rattled. People heard it from Good Hope Road to Highway 35 and south to Pope, and Facebook inquiries were quickly flying about.

But on Thursday, authorities were still unsure what happened shortly after 10 p.m. Wednesday night.

Panola Emergency Management Services Director Daniel Cole said that he was at home in bed and thought the  pictures on the walls of his home were falling to the floor. Shortly afterwards, Cole said he fielded 15 to 20 calls from other people wanting to know the source of the apparent explosion.

A gas pipeline rupture was soon ruled out, Cole said. The explosion reminded county residents of a November, 2011 pipeline explosion west of Batesville near the Tallahatchie River that was followed by a spectacular fire. The Wednesday night event also sounded like other apparent explosions that have occurred at nighttime and at least once about three weeks ago.

Seismic activity had also been ruled out by Thursday morning, Cole said.

A dispatcher for the Panola County Sheriff’s Department said they also fielded calls following the explosion but yet had “no idea what it is.”

The sheriff’s department received similar reports about the same time last year, the dispatcher said.