Cloudy skies over the I-5 freeway in Castaic, California on Thursday, Feb 23, 2023.

LATEST Dec. 28, 6:20 a.m.Amid the busy holiday weekend, Interstate 5 near Castaic was closed for hours after reports of an explosion. The highway shut down completely shortly from 5 p.m. to around 9 p.m. Saturday.

The explosion came from a leak in a gas line, Los Angeles County fire officials said. It's not clear what caused the transmission line to rupture, but the impact was significant. “We literally thought a jet had crashed on the freeway,” one nearby resident told KTLA. “We were within a half mile from it. The noise was deafening. People were walking out of their homes with their hands over their ears.”

Advertisement

Article continues below this ad

The smell of gas permeated the air for miles, and the hills around Castaic were filled with dust from the explosion.

The highway is open and operating normally as of Sunday morning.

Dec. 27, 7:13 p.m. Interstate 5 near Castaic in Los Angeles County is shut down after reports of an explosion due to a gas leak, according to

© SFGate