The meteoroid – estimated to be about 10 tons – entered the Earth's atmosphere at a speed of at least 33,000mph, producing a sonic boom. It shattered into pieces between 18-32 miles above the ground, showering the Urals city of Chelyabinsk with debris.
Glass windows and doors were blown out, several building were damaged. Hundreds of people were injured – some with serious head wounds – and 110 victims remained in hospital, many of them children.
A chunk of the space object apparently smashed into a frozen lake, leaving a six-metre wide hole in the ice.
Video footage showed the meteor streaking through the sky at supersonic speed at about 9.20am local time, and then a blaze of light followed later by the sound of explosions and breaking glass. Residents immediately expressed their shock and fear on social media.
"I thought the world was about to end!" said one. A video clip showed men shouting "It's a bombardment!" as a noise like an explosion set off car alarms.
No comments:
Post a Comment