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Fireball Over Western Europe Sends Meteorites Into Koblenz, Damaging a Home

ESA is analyzing multi‑camera recordings to refine the object's size and origin, with laboratory classification of recovered fragments pending.

Overview

  • A bright meteor was seen at about 18:55 CET on March 8, glowing for roughly six seconds as it traveled southwest to northeast over Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
  • At least one roof in the Koblenz‑Güls district was pierced, leaving a football‑sized hole, and officials reported isolated property damage but no injuries.
  • The International Meteor Organization reported rapid recovery of meteorite fragments in the Koblenz region, and the strewn field is still being mapped.
  • ESA’s Planetary Defence team estimates the object was a few metres in diameter, with the event documented by the European AllSky7 network and numerous phone videos.
  • Authorities said there is no link to military activity, noting a surge of emergency calls in Rhineland‑Palatinate, including areas near U.S. bases, after a loud bang was heard.