It exploded in my pack, so I couldn't tell exactly the way it exploded. It was a big BOOM and was very loud. After the explosion, the bezel is separated from the body and the reflector still remained in the bezel. The body of the flashlight is VERY hot and one side of the body bulge. I held the flashlight with a towel and flipped out the battery carrier. One of the batteries got exploded and the other one swelled and all of its wrap cover got melted. The battery carrier got melted and deformed. The bezel and reflector is intact and could be used in my other Surge. The lamp is also intact and work flawless on other Surge as well.
Based on its damage, the explosion only blew out the bezel but didn't blow the body into pieces, I assumed that if it exploded on my hand, the bezel would be blown to whatever direction the flashlight is pointed to without blowing my finger off. Of course, I won't do anything to prove this theory:-)
Alan