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edit: It's now at least 500.
edit:edit: It's now at least 950.
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.
A fireball was seen streaking through the sky above the city of Yekaterinburg, followed by loud bangs.
Much of the impact was felt in another city, Chelyabinsk, some 200km (125 miles) to the south.
"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.
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.
"There was panic," Mr Hametov added.
"People had no idea what was happening. Everyone was going around to people's houses to check if they were okay."
Another witness in Chelyabinsk told Reuters shockwaves had been felt in a 19-storey building in the city centre.
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.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21468116
Damn that sonic boom was strong.
edit:edit: It's now at least 950.
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.
A fireball was seen streaking through the sky above the city of Yekaterinburg, followed by loud bangs.
Much of the impact was felt in another city, Chelyabinsk, some 200km (125 miles) to the south.
"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.
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.
"There was panic," Mr Hametov added.
"People had no idea what was happening. Everyone was going around to people's houses to check if they were okay."
Another witness in Chelyabinsk told Reuters shockwaves had been felt in a 19-storey building in the city centre.
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.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21468116
Damn that sonic boom was strong.
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