Russia’s Urals region has been rocked by a meteorite explosion in the stratosphere. The impact wave damaged several buildings, and blew out thousands of windows amid frigid winter weather. Hundreds have sought medical attention for minor injuries.
Breaking News! Meteor shower falling over Russian mountains
Friday Feb 15, 2013
A meteor shower has caused explosions in the lower atmosphere above central Russia and the Urals region, blowing out windows and causing injuries.
"There was a meteor shower, without fragments falling to the ground," an emergencies ministry spokesman told the Interfax news agency on Friday (today).
"A meteorite exploded above the Chelyabinsk region (of the Urals). The shock wave blew out windows in several places."
The interior ministry said people had been injured by flying glass at a school in Chelyabinsk.
This comes just 15 hours before Asteroid DA14 is due to make it's closest flypast to Earth (at around 19:30 UT)