By using electrical explosion of metal wires, this study proposed a new experimental method to investigate the dynamic fracture process and fragmentation characteristics of rock-like materials under column charge blasting. A copper wire with a length of 100 mm was prefabricated in a mortar sample measuring 300 mm x 300 mm x 180 mm. High-voltage pulses were injected into the copper wire through an electric explosive device to produce an explosion load that could fracture the mortar sample. By virtue of an ultra-high speed camera, fracture processes on a free surface were observed. Moreover, changes in the fracture zone and fragments under an explosive energy of 1.68-5.67 kJ were studied. The results demonstrated that the crushed zone increased with the rise of explosion energy; however, the volume, perimeter, and breakage angle of the blasting crater, as well as the size of fragments decreased with increasing explosion energy. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.