Meteor explodes over Zhejiang – broken windows and street lamps reported, meteorites found, China
Image credit: Weibo
A very bright fireball exploded over China’s Zhejiang Province around 10:00 UTC on December 15, 2022. Parts of the object survived the entry and were later recovered. Locals reported broken windows and street lamps.
Many locals in Jinjhua witnessed the bright light flashing through the night sky, followed by a loud boom.
“The meteorite did fall on our village. It smashed on the cement road at the door of a farmer’s house and smashed a pit that seems to be 6 – 7 cm [2.4 – 2.7 inches] deep. Fortunately, no one was hurt,” a local villager in Chengtou Village, Pujiang County, said.1
According to the villager, the piece of meteorite they saw is about the size of a goose egg, and is flat, black and dense.
Another villager said she heard a loud noise that shook her windows, adding that some villagers reported their windows and several street lamps were broken.
Several suspected meteorites have been handed over to local government departments for investigation and verification.
According to the local media, one of the suspected meteorites is 8 cm (3.1 inches) long and weighs 3.2 kg (7 pounds).
References:
1 “Fireball” Soars Above China’s Zhejiang, Meteorite Parts Later Found – Pandaily – December 16, 2022
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