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| Meteor fall 'injures hundreds' in central Russia | Meteor fall 'injures hundreds' in central Russia |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A meteor crashing in the Urals of central Russia has reportedly injured at least 400 people, as the shockwave blew out windows and rocked buildings. | A meteor crashing in the Urals of central Russia has reportedly injured at least 400 people, as the shockwave blew out windows and rocked buildings. |
| Most of those hurt suffered minor cuts and bruises but some received head injuries, Russian media report. | Most of those hurt suffered minor cuts and bruises but some received head injuries, Russian media report. |
| A fireball was seen streaking through the sky above the city of Yekaterinburg, followed by loud bangs. | A fireball was seen streaking through the sky above the city of Yekaterinburg, followed by loud bangs. |
| The meteor is believed to have landed in a lake near Chebarkul, a town in the neighbouring Chelyabinsk region. | The meteor is believed to have landed in a lake near Chebarkul, a town in the neighbouring Chelyabinsk region. |
| Much of the impact was felt in the city of Chelyabinsk, some 200km (125 miles) south of Yekaterinburg. | Much of the impact was felt in the city of Chelyabinsk, some 200km (125 miles) south of Yekaterinburg. |
| "We saw a big burst of light, then went outside to see what it was and we heard a really loud thundering sound," Chelyabinsk resident Sergey Hametov told AP news agency by phone. | "We saw a big burst of light, then went outside to see what it was and we heard a really loud thundering sound," Chelyabinsk resident Sergey Hametov told AP news agency by phone. |
| Officials say a large meteor partially burned up in the lower atmosphere, resulting in fragments falling earthwards. | Officials say a large meteor partially burned up in the lower atmosphere, resulting in fragments falling earthwards. |
| Thousands of rescue workers have been dispatched to the area to provide help to the injured, the emergencies ministry said. | Thousands of rescue workers have been dispatched to the area to provide help to the injured, the emergencies ministry said. |
| The Chelyabinsk region, about 1,500km (930 miles) east of Moscow, is home to many factories, a nuclear power plant and the Mayak atomic waste storage and treatment centre. | The Chelyabinsk region, about 1,500km (930 miles) east of Moscow, is home to many factories, a nuclear power plant and the Mayak atomic waste storage and treatment centre. |
| 'Blinding' | 'Blinding' |
| A loud noise, resembling an explosion, resounded through Chelyabinsk at around 09:20 (05:20 GMT). | A loud noise, resembling an explosion, resounded through Chelyabinsk at around 09:20 (05:20 GMT). |
| "There was panic," Mr Hametov said. | "There was panic," Mr Hametov said. |
| "People had no idea what was happening. Everyone was going around to people's houses to check if they were okay." | "People had no idea what was happening. Everyone was going around to people's houses to check if they were okay." |
| Andrei, another local resident who did not give his second name, told Reuters he had been standing at a bus stop, seeing off his girlfriend. | Andrei, another local resident who did not give his second name, told Reuters he had been standing at a bus stop, seeing off his girlfriend. |
| "Then there was a flash and I saw a trail of smoke across the sky and felt a shockwave that smashed windows," he said. | "Then there was a flash and I saw a trail of smoke across the sky and felt a shockwave that smashed windows," he said. |
| Shockwaves were felt in a 19-storey building in the city centre, another witness said. | Shockwaves were felt in a 19-storey building in the city centre, another witness said. |
| A roof at a zinc factory in Chelyabinsk also collapsed; however, it appears nobody was hurt in that incident. | A roof at a zinc factory in Chelyabinsk also collapsed; however, it appears nobody was hurt in that incident. |
| In Yekaterinburg, 36-year-old resident Viktor Prokofiev was driving to work when he witnessed the event. | In Yekaterinburg, 36-year-old resident Viktor Prokofiev was driving to work when he witnessed the event. |
| "It was quite dark, but it suddenly became as bright as if it was day," he was quoted by Reuters as saying. | "It was quite dark, but it suddenly became as bright as if it was day," he was quoted by Reuters as saying. |
| "I felt like I was blinded by headlights." | "I felt like I was blinded by headlights." |
| Debris also reportedly fell on the west Siberian region of Tyumen. | Debris also reportedly fell on the west Siberian region of Tyumen. |
| The governor of Chelyabinsk region, Mikhail Yurevich, reported that the meteor had landed in a lake 1km outside Chebarkul, which has a population of 46,000. | The governor of Chelyabinsk region, Mikhail Yurevich, reported that the meteor had landed in a lake 1km outside Chebarkul, which has a population of 46,000. |
| Chelyabinsk city authorities said an initial blast had been heard at an altitude of 10,000m (32,800ft), suggesting it occurred when the meteor entered Earth's atmosphere, Reuters reports. | Chelyabinsk city authorities said an initial blast had been heard at an altitude of 10,000m (32,800ft), suggesting it occurred when the meteor entered Earth's atmosphere, Reuters reports. |
| Such meteor strikes are rare but one is thought to have devastated an area of more than 2,000 sq km (1,250m) in Siberia in 1908. | |
| That event smashed windows as far as 200 km (125 miles) from the point of impact. | That event smashed windows as far as 200 km (125 miles) from the point of impact. |
| Asteroid coincidence | |
| Scientists have played down suggestions that there is any link between the event in the Urals and 2012 DA14, an asteroid expected to race past the Earth on Friday at a distance of just 27,700km (17,200mi) - the closest ever predicted for an object of that size. | |
| Prof Alan Fitzsimmons, of the Astrophysics Research Centre at Queen's University Belfast, said there was "almost definitely" no connection. | |
| "One reason is that 2012 DA14 is approaching Earth from the south, and this object hit in the northern hemisphere," he told BBC News. | |
| "This is literally a cosmic coincidence, although a spectacular one." | |
| Are you in central Russia? Did you see the meteor shower? Send us your experiences using the form below. | Are you in central Russia? Did you see the meteor shower? Send us your experiences using the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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