The city of Cleveland shook when a powerful explosion rocked the city streets today. Was it due to an industrial accident? No, it was for a scene in the Joss Whedon directed film ‘The Avengers’.

The explosions (more than 100 blasts in about 3 seconds) are part of a battle scene set to take place in the movie. Earlier in the day, the crowds watched as hundreds of extras ran through the streets to what sounded like gun fire but could be a scene of them running from the explosion before the actual pyrotechnics occurred. After hours of waiting, the crowd finally got a show.

The familiar call of “Fire in the hole” pre-empted the explosion, which filled the street with smoke and a bright fire ball which left the crowd cheering. Check out the videos below for aerial and ground shots of the explosion!

‘The Avengers’ is set to release on May 4, 2012 and stars Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Chris Evans as Captain America, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk, Scarlett Johansson as the Black Widow and Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye.

(video courtesy of colemkr)

(video courtesy of wewstv)

(video courtesy of wkyz)

(video courtesy of eperry 126)