Explosion at Upper Orara, west of Coffs, attended by police and fire brigade

One man who photographed billowing smoke after an explosion west of Coffs Harbour said he thought a house had blown up. What the residents heard.

One Upper Orara man said he felt disoriented and almost fell over when an explosion rocked the region on Sunday afternoon.

Callam McClung heard the explosion along Jaboh Close around 5pm on Sunday, April 24.

“I was out on the deck and there was an extremely loud explosion,” Mr McClung said.

“It was disorientating and I almost fell over. The ringing in my ears lasted maybe 10 minutes.”

He took a photograph from his deck of smoke rising from behind his house.

“It was louder than a lightning strike.

“I thought a house had exploded from a gas leak, then I saw smoke come up a minute later less than 200m from where I live.”

He thinks the explosion emanated from a nearby property or land near the train tracks or the old BMX course.

He posted about it on Facebook and many other people felt it - some hearing it up to 10 kilometres away.

Some reported a similar explosion in the area a few months ago and Mr McClung also remembers a like incident.

“I wasn’t in the same place for the last one possibly two months ago.

“I was working near Upper Orara Primary School and heard a booming sound in the distance but didn’t think much of it.”

A NSW Police spokesperson confirmed officers from Coffs Harbour attended the scene around 5.50pm.

When they arrived firefighters from the Rural Fire Service (RFS) were already there and told officers an explosion had occurred.

Officers searched the area but could not find anybody injured or damage to property so they have not launched a formal investigation.

The Rural Fire Service has been contacted for comment.