Unidentified object sparks bright flash, tremor, smoke in Uzbekistan PHOTO

Residents of the Namangan region, Uzbekistan, reported the fall of an unidentified object on February 19, accompanied by a bright flash, ground shaking, and smoke. 

A burning trail was also seen over central Tashkent, Caliber.Az reports via Uzbek media.

The Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Astronomy stated it could not confirm whether the object was a meteorite, and the Ministry of Emergency Situations has no information on the incident.

Around midday, locals saw the object leave a bright trail in the sky, accompanied by strong vibrations and loud noise. 

Photos of dark fragments appeared on regional Telegram channels, with some reports of window damage. Aviation spotter Mahmudkhon Odilkhanov, near the local airport, said he heard a loud roar and felt tremors around 12:30–13:00 local time.

Dashcam footage shared online shows the bright object disappearing in the early afternoon.

The Institute of Astronomy said its investigation is ongoing, but no definitive conclusions can be drawn without fragments reaching the ground. 

“There is no confirmation that this is a meteorite or another natural or man-made source,” the institute noted.

The institute added that millions of small cosmic bodies enter Earth’s atmosphere daily, most burning up as meteors. The average mass of meteorites reaching the surface is several dozen tons per day, but the likelihood of one hitting a populated area is extremely low. The Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed no official reports of incidents in the Namangan region.

By Jeyhun Aghazada