Blast damages building

A mysterious Sunday afternoon explosion caused an estimated $250,000 damage to the Virginia Transportation Research Council building on Observatory Hill. There were no injuries, but the building was closed Monday and Tuesday as the cleanup and investigation continued, fire and safety officials reported.

The explosion apparently originated from a storage area adjacent to a lab used to test concrete. The blast triggered an alarm that alerted emergency authorities. Criminal wrongdoing was not suspected, University Police officials said.

U.Va. owns the building and leases it to the council.