Meteor Explodes Over US, Causing Massive Boom and Shaking Houses

Central News Agency, Washington, May 30. NASA stated that a meteor heading toward Earth exploded over the northeastern United States today, causing a massive boom to echo across the region. The explosion had a force equivalent to about 300 tons of TNT. According to AFP, NASA Deputy Press Secretary Jennifer Dooren told AFP that the fireball disintegrated over northeastern Massachusetts and southeastern New Hampshire at 2:06 PM local time (18:06 GMT). She said, 'This fireball is not associated with any currently active meteor showers; it is a natural celestial object, not space debris or a satellite re-entering the atmosphere.' 'The energy released when this meteor disintegrated is estimated to be equivalent to about 300 tons of TNT, which is exactly why it produced such a massive boom.' Dooren stated that the meteor was traveling at a speed of over 120,000 kilometers per hour at an altitude of 64 kilometers when it disintegrated. The sudden, massive boom left local residents panicked, and netizens on social media reported that the explosion was so powerful it shook their houses. (Translation: Chen Yu-ting) 1150531