HOPATCONG, N.J. – Residents of northern New Jersey were startled early Tuesday morning by a sudden flash of light and a loud boom, leaving both locals and authorities searching for answers.

The unexplained incident occurred at 1:54 a.m. in Hopatcong and was captured on multiple home security cameras. “It sounded like the house blew up,” one resident said after the blast rattled the area.

According to Hopatcong police, reports of a bright flash in the sky followed by a powerful explosion came in from several neighborhoods. Officers responded to multiple calls but were unable to find any visible damage or signs of fireworks, structural collapse, or other typical causes.

Officials at Picatinny Arsenal, a nearby U.S. Army research facility, confirmed that the noise did not originate from their installation. Meanwhile, astronomers reported no meteor activity over New Jersey at the time of the event.

The lack of clear evidence has left residents unsettled and authorities puzzled. As of now, the source of the mysterious boom remains under investigation.