A meteorite crash in Russia Friday shook the city of Chelyabinsk, Reuters reports Feb. 15. Up to 514 people were injured, but no fatalities were reported. The incident was said be linked to an asteroid traveling at a speed of 19 miles per second -- making events such as these hard to predict by scientists.
The meteorite was first seen as a massive fireball bolting across the sky, leaving a white trail behind it. A loud sonic boom was also heard when the meteor hit. When it exploded, the impact resulted in shattered windows, damaged buildings, interference with cell phone networks, and set car alarms off, according to the report.
A local ministry official said the meteor might have been associated with an asteroid the size of an Olympic swimming pool passing earth at a distance of 17,100 miles. This hasn't been confirmed, however.
112 of the 514 injured from the meteorite crash in Russia had to be hospitalized, with the remaining seeking treatment for minor injuries from flying glass and other objects.
Witnesses stated in the report that a massive flash of light was seen before it crashed, making a shower of fireballs.
Officials are looking for remains of the meteorite around Chelyabinsk and the surrounding area. Chelyabinsk is 950 miles east of Moscow.
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