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Meteor shower in central Russia 'injures at least 250' Meteor fall 'injures hundreds' in central Russia
(35 minutes later)
At least 250 people have been injured after a meteor shower over central Russia blew out windows, interior ministry sources say. 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.
Brightly burning rocks could be seen for hundreds of kilometres as they crashed into the Ural region. Most of those hurt suffered minor cuts and bruises but some received head injuries, Russian media report.
Chelyabinsk residents reported shaking ground and car alarms being set off. A fireball was seen streaking through the sky above the city of Yekaterinburg, followed by loud bangs.
The traces from falling objects could be seen in Yekaterinburg, about 200km (125 miles) north of Chelyabinsk, a witness told the Reuters news agency. Much of the impact was felt in another city, Chelyabinsk, some 200km (125 miles) to the south.
At least 100 people - many injured by broken glass from shockwaves caused by the shower - have been taken to hospital for treatment, medical officials in the city have said. "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.
'Burning objects' Officials say a large meteor partially burned up in the lower atmosphere, resulting in fragments falling earthwards.
A witness in Chelyabinsk told Reuters that a huge blast was heard early on Friday morning and that shockwaves were felt in a 19-storey building in the town centre. Thousands of rescue workers have been dispatched to the area to provide help to the injured, the emergencies ministry said.
The Interfax news agency said that preliminary reports indicated that four people were injured by flying glass. 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.
People in the Chelyabinsk and Sverdlovsk regions reported seeing "burning objects" in the sky, which also fell on the cities of Yekaterinburg and Tyumen - a sparsely populated area of about 500km (310 miles). 'Blinding'
About 600 sq m (6,000 sq ft) of a roof at a zinc factory collapsed, the Associated Press quoted an interior ministry spokesman as saying. "There was panic," Mr Hametov added.
The Chelyabinsk region is Russia's industrial heartland, an area that has many factories, a nuclear power plant and the Mayak atomic waste storage and treatment centre. "People had no idea what was happening. Everyone was going around to people's houses to check if they were okay."
The emergencies ministry said that thousands of rescue workers had been dispatched to the area to provide help to the injured. Another witness in Chelyabinsk told Reuters shockwaves had been felt in a 19-storey building in the city centre.
Officials say that the shower began after a large meteorite disintegrated above the Urals mountain range and partially burned up in the lower atmosphere - resulting in fragments falling earthwards throughout the Chelyabinsk region. 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.
"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."
Debris also reportedly fell on the west Siberian region of Tyumen.
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.
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