Emergency services are racing to the scene after a SpaceX rocket exploded while on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral.
Plumes of black smoke could be seen from several miles away shortly before 9am after fire broke out during a static test.
The multi-million dollar private American aerospace manufacturer company was set to launch a 'recycled' rocket this afternoon.
Nasa said space exploration and technologies firm SpaceX was conducting a test firing of its unmanned rocket when the blast occurred on Thursday morning (local time).
Witnesses said the blast shook buildings for miles around and multiple explosions continued for several minutes.
Additional details were not immediately available, but sirens could be heard in the aftermath as a cloud of dark smoke filled the overcast sky.
Twitter user 740kdev wrote: "just seen SpaceX Falcon 9 explode and pieces are falling all around me and I'm scared s***less..."
@GirlieToNerdy/TwitterThe Cape Canaveral explosion could be seen from miles away SpaceX/twitterSpaceX tweeted this picture of a rocket earlier today @ErinHead_HIM /TwitterThe explosion shook homes and buildings nearby The rocket was supposed to launch an Israeli satellite this weekend.
Earlier today the company tweeted: "First launch of flight-proven first stage will use CRS-8 booster that delivered Dragon to Space_Station in April."
The privately owned rocket blasted off from Florida in April to send a cargo ship to the International Space Station before turning around and landed itself back at the launch site.
— Obnoxious Boston Fan (@realOBF) September 1, 2016 Video right after explosion at KSC @WFTV pic.twitter.com/hyLlGsYupg
— Martha Sugalski (@MarthaSugalski) September 1, 2016 The 23-story-tall Falcon 9 rocket, built and flown by billionaire Elon Musk's Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX is based at from Cape Canaveral Air Force.
The Falcon 9 is hoped to be the future of space exploration allowing reusable rockets to be used.
First launch of flight-proven first stage will use CRS-8 booster that delivered Dragon to @Space_Station in April pic.twitter.com/UsqWeNBEK2
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 30, 2016 I hope everyone is OK at #SpaceX. pic.twitter.com/HFN5jiGDDf
— Ian Dawson (@PointyEndUp) September 1, 2016 It had been scheduled to launch on Saturday to deliver Facebook's first satellite into orbit.
It was part of the social media's site CEO Mark Zuckerberg's vision of bringing the internet to areas of Saharan Africa.
RexA SpaceX Falcon 9 RocketThe SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket being launched earlier this year No injuries have been reported so far following the explosion around 9.30am today (local time).
The Falcon 9 is launched from Canaveral's SLC-40 pad from where Titan III and Titan IV launched between 1965 and 2005.
SpaceX was founded in 2002 by former PayPal entrepreneur and Tesla Motors CEO Musk with the goal of creating the technologies to reduce space transportation costs and enable the colonisation of Mars.
It has developed the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 launch vehicles, both designed to be reusable, and the Dragon spacecraft which is flown into orbit by the Falcon 9 launch vehicle to supply the International Space Station with cargo.
Amaka Osakwe blasts Ambode for demolishing her shop without notice
Amaka Osakwe of Maki Oh fashion outfit is angry with Lagos State governor Akin Ambode after her shop was torn down by Lagos State government without prior warning today.
She lamented on Instagram:
This is my country. This is Nigeria. @akinwunmiambode @lagosstategovt Who protects the small businesses trying to do HONEST work in this disgustingly corrupt nation? With no warning, @nulijuice and all the shops on this strip were bulldozed down because the landlord apparently did not pay a 40 million Naira permit. The tenants found out about this this morning and 1 hr later their sweat and blood was turned rubble. No warning! How can this nation ever be great? We need to start a conversation about this mess. Who is next What has this nation ever done for SME's like us? Absolutely nothing but frustrate our efforts. But during your political campaigns you proudly advertise Maki Oh as one of the nation's exports. You have done nothing for us!!! How can we be great? This is not a country. ]
chigoizie7: Normally, I don't condone violence in any form, either from a man or a woman. But I am good in retaliation. Punch me, and I will give u an equal dose.
But in this case, in public, I would just take the same step as the Kenyan man.
And since I know my conscience is clear, that will be the end of that marriage. No amount of begging will make me look back. Not even my kids, if they want make them shed blood. Jesus christ sef no fit settle the matter sef.
I hate disrespect the most in life, I will be the last to disrespect u, but once u do that to me. The way I will react, I will even be surprised I did. I might even regret my actions later, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't retaliate.
lalasticlala come and force this reckless driver off the road before he jams somebody
This incident happened on Monday 29 August 2016. The man was apprehended by his wife in the middle of a busy Tom Mboya street in Kenyan capital Nairobi.
Instead of listening to her husband's explanations that he was locked up in a police station on Friday 26 and was only released that morning, the wife threw the husband a sucker punch to the amazement and cheering of the crowd.
The husband, not ready for any more drama, surprisingly wiped his face and left the wife standing there with her arms charged like Mike Tyson.
Dearies, what's your take on the man's actions? A gentleman? Or should he have torn the woman to smithereens with his bare hands right there on the street (if he had the power o)?
Wednesday, 31 August 2016 Heartbreak ensues as Mark Essien tells girl crushing on him "I'm married"
Hotels.ng founder Mark Essien who met Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg today shutdown a girl crushing on him instantly before she could say more by telling her the koko: I'm married.
Guys, say the truth. Not many married guys can behave like this in Nigeria. Many of y'all go extra miles of denying your wives or girlfriends when toasting another babe. Lol.
Catholic church parishioners brutalize suicide bomber after bomb fails to explode
Members of St. Yoseph Catholic Church in Indonesia descended on a would-be suicide bomber identified as Ivan Hasugian after his explosive failed to detonate during a filled Sunday mass on 28 August 2016.
The teenager said to be carrying a drawing of an ISIS flag alongside his ID card resorted to an attempt to butcher the priest, Rev Fr. Albert Pandiangan, with an axe when he bomb plot failed to work, however, the congregation was quick to descend on him before any more harm could be done. Luckily, the priest only sustained minor injuries on his left arm.
Police chief Nur Fallah confirming the incident said: "Somebody tried to kill the priest by pretending to attend the church service and at that time tried to explode something, like a firecracker, but the firecracker didn't explode, it only fumed." Photos:
A blog reader sent me pictures of the state of a road leading to Church Of Ascension, Issele-Uku Catholic Diocese of Delta State today. According to the source, the road is neither accessible by leg nor motor vehicles as rainwater has taken over the untarred, undrained street branches off from the Benin-Asaba Expressway in Delta State capital Asaba.
Quoting the message our person sent to Somtoo Okoye blog page on Facebook (corrected for some grammatical errors):
"Somtoo, please help me broadcast this message so that governor Okowa will hear us. Our parish, Church Of Ascension Catholic Church under Issele Uku Diocese has been entirely cut off by flood. We have sent appeals to the state government over the years but nobody has come to our aid. This morning, the 7AM mass was deserted by parishioners because they could not access the church compound due to heavy flooding on the road and within the compound. Some cars that went into the rainwater developed faults on the spot while some got stuck. Some people had to remove their shoes and swim the muddy water, some climbed and walked on the fence while some others chose to return home or attend other parishes in Asaba. I'm not even talking about residents of the street or the offices and shops that have abandoned their businesses due to the nature of the street.
As I'm talking to you, our priest Fr. John Konyeke tried to raise money for building of the road. Contractors brought a bill of 4.9 million naira for the construction but after one month, we were only able to raise about 1m naira (including contributions from some landlords and a nearby hotel (Definite-Destiny Hotel) in the area. Other landlords who mostly do not reside in the area did not bother to contribute sha. Our priest was told that partial construction or filling of the road with sand (just like we've done many times) will only make matters worse when another rain comes. I'm using this opportunity to beg Ifeanyi Okowa and other notable Deltans to come to our aid and the aid of residents of the area. Thanks."
Buhari will do well, mark my words - Nigerians blast Femi Adesina on Facebook
The president's Media senior special adviser Femi Adesina took a bashing on Facebook when he discussed his recent interview with Channels TV titled "MARK MY WORDS, PRESIDENT BUHARI WILL DO WELL FOR THIS COUNTRY."
Some users queries Buhari's aide for his utterances with someone even suggesting that he speaks like some overzealous Nigerian pastors.
51-year-old Ogun State woman nabbed with 180 grammes of heroin
Akinyemi Monsurat Olajumoke, who hails from Ogun State, was nabbed with four parcels of heroin, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, during inward screening of passengers on an Ethiopia Airlines flight from Entebbe, Uganda.
Narrating how she got involved in the act of drug pushing, 51-year-old Olajumoke said: "I am a trader. I used to buy female clothes from India for sale. However, due to family problems and the economic situation, my capital is getting smaller and I wanted to expand my business. I was introduced into drug trafficking by a friend who invited me to Uganda.
"I invested my $3,000 into the deal in expectation of over 100%. I am sad that things did not go as planned. When the drug was discovered at the airport, I felt as if it was all over for me."
I enjoyed my prison stay - trader who named his dog Buhari
Joe Chinakwe became popular after he was arrested and charged to court for naming his pet dog after Nigeria's president Muhammadu Buhari. The 40-year-old businessman who was remanded in prison and released on Thursday after fulfilling his bail conditions has described his experience in lockdown.
His words: "I am so happy. It is a joy to me. I have missed my family; that was most painful. “Prison is a place to experienced in one’s life. It is like a rehabilitation home: you learn many things there and there are many people you may not have the opportunity to talk to.
"But in prison, you will sit down with them and discuss. There are many things you take for granted, but when you go to prison you know there is law. The only thing I am regretting about my coming to prison is the intimidation from the Hausa community. Going to prison is a golden moment for me.
Speaking on naming his dog Buhari, Joe said: "As a matter of fact, they misunderstood me. I have three dogs: one bears Obama, one bears Joe, an abbreviation of my name. The third is named Buhari.
"I named these dogs after my role models. My late dog was named after Nelson Mandela. I don’t just give any name to my dogs. I give reputable names to my dogs. It is love I have for Buhari; he is my role model.
"Buhari is not the President of the North. He is the President of Nigeria. I see no reason why Northerners should intimidate me: Nigeria is one. I see no reason why they will be intimidating me. It is my right to name my dog any name. Thank God, I have regained my freedom. The most painful thing is the way they treated my dog. I am not happy that they killed my dog, while I was in detention.
"It is my dog, it is my pet. I love my dogs. They have no right to kill my dog. Nigerians should know that there are other dogs in other areas that bear Jack as name. Why is Buhari so special. It is a name that has been existing for several years."
Pa Michael Obi, father of Team Nigeria's U23 men's football team captain Mikel Obi, has criticized the Federal Government of neglect and improper reception of the squad when they returned from Rio, Brazil at the end of the 2016 Olymics yesterday.
Speaking in Plateau State capital, Jos, Obi said o Wednesday: "I was surprised to read that there are no plans to receive the team. It is very unfair, especially after the team won the only medal at the Games,.
"The least they had expected was a hero’s welcome and a presidential handshake to appreciate their superlative performance, especially when nobody had expected that they would go far at the Games.
"I had expected Mikel to lead the team back to Nigeria, accorded a befitting reception, before going back to their various clubs.
"This is want an appreciate sports authorities and the Federal Government would have done.
"We are all aware of the shoddy preparations for the Games and how they were stranded in another country before they got to the venue, a few hours to the start of their first game against Japan. Despite this, they struggled to make the country proud and if this is all they could get for their efforts, I think it’s very unfortunate."
OAP Freeze who was shaded by comedian Bovi[/url] earlier today has completed the circle of shades by throwing an epic one at Basketmouth, his sworn social media enemy.
Freeze uploaded a picture of himself pecking Basketmouth's current wife Elsie Okpocha whom he reportedly dated back in the day. The Cool FM presenter also complimented Elsie's changed color aka bleached skin by reminding himself of when "I had lots of hair before I started balding!"
According to the "31-year-old" actress, this photo was taken in 2000. Her Wikipedia page says she was born on June 12, 1985 so, if my calculations are right, the photo was taken when the sultry actress was just 15 years old (igbanda).
She admitted bleaching her skin but I'd rather not believe she was just 15 here.
Paree La’Tiejira aka Lady Paree (her mokier in porn movies) is suing Facebook owner Mark Zuckerberg over her ruined career. The former porn star thinks that Zuckerberg allowed people to spread the rumor that she was born as a man on Facebook, thereby making her lose popularity and ultimately forcing her to quit the business of porn making when jobs were not forthcoming. The alleged transgender also claimed she received death threats from some people.
The charges document which Paree's lawyers submitted to a court in the southern district of Texas earlier this week read: "Such intentional, malicious, or grossly negligent publication by defendants has caused her economic and compensatory damages, as well as emotional distress and physical pain so severe that she has had to seek professional assistance to cope with the damages caused by Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg"
There was pandemonium at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya as a policewoman identified as Gaudencia Wausi entered one of the restrooms and shot herself to death.
The Kenyan policewoman who was said to be coming back from a one year leave was in high spirits when she resumed her duty at the airport only weeks ago.
She left some cryptic messages on Facebook and Whatsapp before the incident. She wrote in her profile which goes with a moniker "Bella Caude Ian": “Life is so difficult wen u live in a world here, everybody is planning evil against u and wat happens wen u cant hold it anymore and no more strength to support the few people who love and cherish uu are left with no other option other than…..so help me God.”
Reactions have began to pour in following the news of an alleged breakaway faction of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) which calls itself The Transformed Indigenous People Of Biafra (TRIPOB).
IPOB spokesman Emeka Gift says the "imaginary" TRIPOB faction was created by the president Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government Of Nigeria in order to cause confusion within the IPOB.
Speaking today, Mr. Gift explained in a statement: Nigeria government is working hard to deceive our people on what we stand for, they have created fake Avengers it didn't work, they created fake MEND it didn't work now they are planning to create fake IPOB.
"GOD is our witness if Nigeria government attempts to burn our flag...Nigeria flag will be used to make caricature around the globe. IPOB is one under Nnamdi Kanu.
"Our people should disregard Nigeria and their plan to put confusion within IPOB, we are here to counter every of their lies. NEVER SHALL THEIR LIES STAND FOR 10 SECONDS ANYMORE. WE ARE READY FOR THIS STRUGGLE AND IPOB WILL FIGHT TO FINISH. IPOB IS ONE INDIVISIBLE FAMILY. “COMMAND AND CONTROL IS OUR WATCHDOG."
Science/Technology › Re: SpaceX Rocket Explosion Destroys Facebook Satellite by conductor1(op): 3:29pm On Sep 01, 2016
What has this nation ever done for SME's like us? Absolutely nothing but frustrate our efforts. But during your political campaigns you proudly advertise Maki Oh as one of the nation's exports. You have done nothing for us!!! How can we be great? This is not a country.