Small meteorite smashes into Nicaraguan capital

A mysterious late-night blast in the Nicaraguan capital of Managua that left a crater 12 metres wide was most likely caused by a meteorite, government scientists said on Sunday. The loud explosion occurred around 11 p.m. on Saturday on the outskirts of Managua near the airport, said Wilfried Strauch from the Nicaraguan Institute of Earth Studies (Ineter) in an interview on a government TV channel. No one was injured. Strauch said that Nicaragua is asking the United States for expert help to investigate the event, which was picked up by seismic sensors.

All the evidence that we’ve confirmed on-site corresponds exactly with a meteorite and not with any other type of event.

Jose Millan, Ineter

The composition of the supposed meteorite was not confirmed as Ineter scientists were not sure whether it had disintegrated upon hitting the ground or if it remained buried. Nicaragua has more than 20 volcanoes and is regularly shaken by earthquakes, so many locals initially thought a quake caused the loud bang.

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