Very bright fireball illuminates night sky over Iraq
The Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology confirmed on Saturday, September 7, 2024, that the mysterious bright light seen over the skies of Iraq on Friday, September 6 was caused by a meteor burning up in the atmosphere, denying the earlier speculation that it might have been earthquake lightning.
Image credit: Iraq Zone (stillshot)
The bright light observed over the skies of Iraq on Friday, September 6, was confirmed to be a meteor by Iraq’s meteorological organization.
Several people believed the light was a phenomenon called “earthquake lightning” due to confusion regarding a prior incident where a meteor flash was mistaken for lightning in Lebanon and Syria.
“After several questions were raised about the light that appeared in Syria, Turkey, and Iraq, and some people believed it was earthquake lightning, it was confirmed to be the result of a meteor burning in the atmosphere,” said Salman Saddam Al-Bahadli, the Director of the Seismic Monitoring Department at the Authority.
Videos shared online show the meteor burning up with a bright green flash in the skies of Iraq:
According to the Iraqi News Agency, the General Authority for Meteorology and Seismic Monitoring is monitoring the information being circulated on social media regarding a meteor falling in Iraq, as false reports may confuse citizens.
1 العراق يؤكد احتراق نيزك في غلافه الجوي – Aawsat– September 7, 2024
2 سقوط-النيزك-في-العراق-توضيح-رسمي-يكشف-حقيقة-الظاهرة – Almashhad – September 9, 2024
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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