Steinbach RCMP say they suspect Tannerite was the source of a loud explosion Sunday night near Pansy. Tannerite can be purchased in small quantities for use in target practice. If used in larger quantities, it causes a huge blast.

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Emergency crews were called to the Pansy area Sunday evening around 8 pm after a resident heard an explosion.

Danny Gresiuk reported what he says was a humungous explosion that knocked pictures off the wall in his home. "I didn't know what happened, maybe a meteor hit the ground, or a tree fell on the house, or the neighbours house blew up. It was so loud. I've never heard anything like it before, it was a huge explosion."

When Gresiuk went outside, he says everything looked okay, and all he could see was what he called a mushroom cloud of smoke past the trees. "The explosion came from about 3/4 of a mile from my house on the 403, closer to the gravel pit area."

Gresiuk says Grunthal Fire responded very quickly to his call to 911, but were not able to find the source of the explosion. RCMP were also on the scene and continue to investigate.