The mysterious object in the sky. Photo: Aftonbladet reader-submitted image
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A meteor caused a loud explosion and intense light over the Åland Islands on Tuesday night, prompting reports from several cities across southern Finland.
The incident occurred around 10:30pm and lasted just a few seconds. A fireball appeared in the sky and was followed by a sudden boom. The Åland police confirmed that they received multiple calls about a flash and noise, but found no injuries or damage.
Footage captured by residents shows the meteor’s path from different angles. In Geta, Vincent Bergman, 16, was swimming with friends when he saw and recorded the fireball.
“The whole of Åland heard the sound,” said his mother, Jessica Jansson.
Another video came from Frans Björkroth in Parainen, whose dashboard camera recorded the fireball while he was driving home.
Sightings extended far beyond Åland. Observers reported the meteor from Kirkkonummi, Turku, Espoo, Tampere, Rauma, and Masku. Finland’s astronomical association Ursa received dozens of citizen reports through its observation portal.
One witness in Kirkkonummi described the fireball as brighter than the full moon. Another in Masku wrote, “Fireball at night, like the sun.”
In Åland, Rasmus Karlsson, a journalist with Ålands Radio, saw the fireball while at a summer cottage.
“It was a ball of light that came from the southwest and travelled northeast at high speed,” he said. “I have never seen or heard anything like it in all my life.”
He estimated the meteor was headed toward Norrhavet, northeast of the islands, but stressed that the exact trajectory was hard to determine.
The event lasted about three seconds and sparked widespread speculation. Social media users shared videos and commented on the intensity of the flash.
Kaveh Bahar, secretary of Åland’s amateur astronomy club, told Ålands Radio the footage likely confirmed that a meteor exploded in the atmosphere.
Local police concluded their investigation, stating there was nothing further to pursue. The Finnish Meteorological Institute and astronomical groups have not yet provided a detailed trajectory or analysis.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
