A quiet South Carolina coastal town was shaken to its core Saturday afternoon when a powerful explosion ripped through the home of Judge Diane Goodstein, leaving devastation in its wake. Smoke and debris shot skyward, visible for miles, while neighbors described a thunderous roar followed by a wave of heat that rattled windows blocks away. Within minutes, fire trucks, ambulances, and police flooded the scene, converging on what was once one of the town’s most recognizable homes.
Miraculously, Judge Goodstein was not inside. Multiple witnesses saw her walking alone on the nearby beach just minutes before the blast — a coincidence that has left the community stunned and sparked intense speculation.
Her husband, former state senator Arnold Goodstein, and several family members were in the house at the time. They were rescued from the rubble by neighbors and first responders and rushed to a nearby hospital. Authorities have not released updates on their condition, and the hospital remains under tight security.
The cause of the explosion is still under investigation. Early reports suggested a possible gas leak, as some neighbors noticed the faint odor of natural gas shortly before the blast. Yet witnesses also reported a second, sharper detonation — a sound distinct from a typical gas explosion. One resident described it as “something military,” while another said it was “a pop that didn’t match the rest of the noise.”
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