An object with a fiery tail passed over the Jakarta sky early Sunday morning, shortly before a loud explosion was heard in several districts of the Indonesian capital, witnesses reported. Experts said it may be a meteor
In the picture: Tunguska - an entire area in Siberia that was destroyed by a meteor explosion in 1908.
Mysterious explosion in Indonesia: Many eyewitnesses in the country noticed an unidentified object that emerged from the sky at high speed and crashed with a loud explosion near the capital of Indonesia. The powerful explosion was heard throughout the city, and alarmed the residents, after warnings were received earlier about the intention of terrorist operatives to carry out attacks on various targets in the country. The examination of the case reveals that it is an unidentified object, and astronomers estimate that the object may have been a particularly large meteor that managed to penetrate the atmosphere. A similar event was also recorded in China, a few days ago.
An Indonesian Air Force radar detected an unidentified object falling from the sky at high speed, before disappearing at the same time as the sound of the explosion, an army spokesman said.
The spokesman for the Air Force said that the object disappeared at a very short distance from the ground, apparently at the time when the powerful explosion was heard, at around four in the morning (Israel time).
The astronomy professor said that the object may have been a large meteor that exploded and burned up when it entered the atmosphere, at an approximate height of 100 km. "I suspect that this is a meteor that burned up while creating a huge noise." said Prof. Muji Reharto of the West Jakarta Institute of Technology.
Up to this time, no more meteors were observed and except for large forces of police and rescue forces that were called to the scene, not much of a feature was visible.
Passersby said that before the strong explosion, they watched a large object approaching at great speed from the sky. "It crashed with a strong explosive sound, which was clearly heard at a great distance from the scene of the incident. The object had a long and glowing trail, and the speed of its approach to the earth was enormous," said some of the witnesses.
The security forces and authorities in Indonesia have been in a state of emergency in recent days, due to warnings issued by various governments about Muslim terrorists who have taken part in a series of terrorist attacks in recent years, and are planning further actions. Investigators will examine the crash site, and full details are expected to be released in the coming hours.
A few days ago, a similar incident occurred in China, which brought out hundreds of curious people to look for the remains of a meteor that fell from the sky. A burning object, followed by a trail of bright light, crossed the sky of Gansu Province in China, and crashed with an explosive sound. Eyewitnesses also said that they saw two "tails" of bright light following the burning object, a taxi driver said that suddenly the sky lit up like day and then he saw a ball of fire followed by a trail of light cutting the sky. The police searched for the remains of the meteor, but these were not found.
As mentioned, the Indonesian authorities are on high alert after last week warnings were received in Indonesia about the intention of Islamic extremists to carry out attacks there.
אינדונזיה
A mystery in Jakarta: did UFOs fly in the sky of the capital?
Jakarta. Amazed residents in the Indonesian capital region yesterday reported hearing thunderous explosions and seeing unidentified objects flying in the sky. An official at the Indonesian Space Agency hastened to give a logical explanation for the phenomenon, saying that the explosions were most likely caused by a falling meteor. But the police forces, who were put on alert following warnings of attacks against hotels where tourists stay, said that in the search of the area "nothing was found to indicate bombs or a meteor". A spokesman for the Indonesian Air Force also announced yesterday that the radar did not register any meteor penetration.
