I remember in the days when my hearing was better heating the Ealing bombing and the Buncefield explosion (although the later may have been more the pressure wave rattling the windows). It's quite likely that as there's no other significant sounds at that time in the morning the sound would carry - and might be helped by a wind in the right direction. Still, not quite like being in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, etc ...
Michael Ixer ● 62d