Post by Sunnysnet on Jun 11, 2004 16:39:09 GMT -5
June 6, 2004
A massive mysterious explosion in Wairoa this morning shook windows and woke people in Mahia, Kotemaori, Ruakituri, Lake Waikaremoana and Wairoa.
Wairoa senior sergeant Chris Flood said the explosion occurred about 3.40am.
Police called several people around the district. "They report hearing a loud explosion and seeing the whole sky light up. Everyone heard it," Mr Flood said. He thought it might have been a meteor.
Department of Conservation Aniwaniwa area manager Glenn Mitchell said he thought the noise was an LPG bottle exploding.
"I knew it wasn't a gunshot. It was a large explosion. I drove all around the motor camp because my main concern was it was an LPG bottle in a campervan or a unit," Mr Mitchell said.
Kotemaori constable John Bruce said he thought the noise was an earthquake.
"I sat there waiting for the shake to come but it didn't. I thought it might have been the hot water cylinder exploding, because there was such a heavy frost here. It sounded like an explosion of some sort - like someone blowing up a rock face," Mr Bruce said. The noise also woke Nuhaka Garage owner Richard Michaelsen.
"It was a weird noise. It was loud enough to wake me up. I thought it must have been a thunderclapso I stayed awake to see if there were anymore, but there weren't, he said.
Carter Observatory astronomer Kay Leather said the explosion may well have been the sonic boom of a meteor entering the atmosphere.
"There have been several recent reports of fireballs in the northern hemisphere, in Portugal and in Washington. There have also been several recordings of these occurring during the day, which is our night," Ms Leather said.
She said a meteor, which may be no larger than fist in size, would cause a loud explosion and a light as bright as daylight.
Hawkes Bay Today
MARTY SHARPE
www.mytown.co.nz/story/mytstorydisplay.cfm?thecity=hawkesbay&thepage=news&storyID=3571753&type=nzh
A massive mysterious explosion in Wairoa this morning shook windows and woke people in Mahia, Kotemaori, Ruakituri, Lake Waikaremoana and Wairoa.
Wairoa senior sergeant Chris Flood said the explosion occurred about 3.40am.
Police called several people around the district. "They report hearing a loud explosion and seeing the whole sky light up. Everyone heard it," Mr Flood said. He thought it might have been a meteor.
Department of Conservation Aniwaniwa area manager Glenn Mitchell said he thought the noise was an LPG bottle exploding.
"I knew it wasn't a gunshot. It was a large explosion. I drove all around the motor camp because my main concern was it was an LPG bottle in a campervan or a unit," Mr Mitchell said.
Kotemaori constable John Bruce said he thought the noise was an earthquake.
"I sat there waiting for the shake to come but it didn't. I thought it might have been the hot water cylinder exploding, because there was such a heavy frost here. It sounded like an explosion of some sort - like someone blowing up a rock face," Mr Bruce said. The noise also woke Nuhaka Garage owner Richard Michaelsen.
"It was a weird noise. It was loud enough to wake me up. I thought it must have been a thunderclapso I stayed awake to see if there were anymore, but there weren't, he said.
Carter Observatory astronomer Kay Leather said the explosion may well have been the sonic boom of a meteor entering the atmosphere.
"There have been several recent reports of fireballs in the northern hemisphere, in Portugal and in Washington. There have also been several recordings of these occurring during the day, which is our night," Ms Leather said.
She said a meteor, which may be no larger than fist in size, would cause a loud explosion and a light as bright as daylight.
Hawkes Bay Today
MARTY SHARPE
www.mytown.co.nz/story/mytstorydisplay.cfm?thecity=hawkesbay&thepage=news&storyID=3571753&type=nzh