Video : Meteorite hits Russia, 400 hurt

15 February 2013 09:35 am - 20 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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About 400 people were injured when a meteorite shot across the sky in central Russia on Friday sending fireballs crashing to Earth, smashing windows and setting off car alarms.

Residents on their way to work in Chelyabinsk heard what sounded like an explosion, saw a bright light and then felt a shockwave, according to a Reuters correspondent in the industrial city 1,500 km (950 miles) east of Moscow.

The meteorite raced across the horizon, leaving a long white trail in its wake which could be seen as far as 200 km (125 miles) away in Yekaterinburg. Car alarms went off, windows shattered and mobile phones worked only intermittently.

Chelyabinsk city authorities said about 400 people sought medical help, mainly for light injuries caused by flying glass.

"I was driving to work, it was quite dark, but it suddenly became as bright as if it was day," said Viktor Prokofiev, 36, a resident of Yekaterinburg in the Urals Mountains.

"I felt like I was blinded by headlights," he said.

No fatalities were reported but President Vladimir Putin, who was due to host Finance Ministry officials from the Group of 20 nations in Moscow, and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev were informed.

A local ministry official said the meteor shower may have been connected with an asteroid the size of an Olympic swimming pool that was due to pass Earth at a distance of 27,520 km (17,100 miles) but this could not be confirmed.

Windows were shattered on Chelyabinsk's central Lenin Street and some of the frames of shop fronts buckled.

A loud noise, resembling an explosion, rang out at around 9.20 a.m. (0520 GMT). The shockwave could be felt in apartment buildings in the industrial city's centre.

"I was standing at a bus stop, seeing off my girlfriend," said Andrei, a local resident who did not give his second name. "Then there was a flash and I saw a trail of smoke across the sky and felt a shockwave that smashed windows."

A wall was damaged at the Chelyabinsk Zinc Plant but there was no environmental threat, a plant spokeswoman said. (Reuters)

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(Video Courtcey CNN)

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Comments - 20

Uncle Sam Friday, 15 February 2013 12:37 PM

Now Putin has to decide like bush in 2001, with us or against us. war against meteorite.

Shaik Anwar Ahamath Friday, 15 February 2013 02:57 PM

In the scale astronomy this is like missing earth by a hairsbreath. Imagine the damage it could have done if it actually hit earth. The people inhabiting earth are constantly killing each other over religion, race, envy, greed, superiority, wealth and more but these meteors don't care what your belief or attitude, it'll destroy you nevertheless.

Mad Friday, 15 February 2013 03:03 PM

Who is goin 2 say about doomz day in 2013, after the foolish mayans

Gabo Singho Friday, 15 February 2013 03:09 PM

In Chelyabinsk the population is mostly Tatars and are muslims. During the Soviet era this area was a huge military complex of armament manufacturing factories.

DHA Friday, 15 February 2013 09:57 AM

Expect the unexpected......meteorites are like our politicians never know what will happen next.....

Ann Friday, 15 February 2013 03:47 PM

It could be a chunk that broke off from the main meteor....

Gihan Friday, 15 February 2013 10:16 AM

Any relation to 2012 AD14 ?????

HK Friday, 15 February 2013 10:24 AM

May be American trying to hit in the name of astro..

lip Friday, 15 February 2013 04:41 PM

Today, February 15, 2013, there is also a reported asteroid that was predicted to be passing between the moon and earth, only 17,000 miles from earth.

Hopefully Science will continue to inform fundamentalist religions as we humans move forward. We need more intelligent thinking that helps us prosper, rather than mistaken and misguided religions that foster ridiculous beliefs about God's punishment.

The universe knows what's going on. So far, we have just a small clue.

Ann Saturday, 16 February 2013 04:38 AM

Not just meteors... that applies to all of nature.

sageeth Friday, 15 February 2013 12:00 AM

superman returns??? via DM Android App

vk Friday, 15 February 2013 12:00 AM

doomsday asteroid calculations just delayed by 2 months via DM Android App

Freak Friday, 15 February 2013 05:57 PM

Genius thinking mate....

sara deyal Friday, 15 February 2013 10:45 AM

CNN reports only 4 injured

HelloWorld Friday, 15 February 2013 10:45 AM

No, but imagine if this one had changed course of 2012 AD14. Doomed!

mail_guy Friday, 15 February 2013 11:32 AM

I was waiting for some meteor hit on my office unfortunately it skipped to Russia.

human Friday, 15 February 2013 12:00 AM

unexpected via DM Android App

PRASANNAJIT Friday, 15 February 2013 11:37 AM

Had fallen into the wrong place. Original course was to the place in Diyawanna oya.

Sareek Friday, 15 February 2013 11:41 AM

May be parts from our sat.

Muhammad Friday, 15 February 2013 12:00 AM

Warning shots from heaven. via DM Android App

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Video : Meteorite hits Russia, 400 hurt

Comments - 20

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