[meteorite-list] CRATER FROM POSSIBLE METEOR FRAGMENT IN BALI .....

[Bjorn Sorheim]

Another article:

http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailheadlines.asp?fileid=20080103.A05&irec=4

Meteor fragment crater draws crowds to Gianyar

National News - Thursday, January 03, 2008

Ary Hermawan and Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Gianyar, Bandung

Residents in Sukawati village in Gianyar regency, around 20 kilometers 
north of Denpasar, reported the appearance of a mysterious crater in the 
middle of a paddy field Wednesday.

The hole was allegedly caused by a falling meteorite fragment.

One meter wide and around 30 centimeters deep, the cavity has turned into a 
large puddle in the heavy rains that have showered the area since New 
Year's Eve.

Disregarding slippery paths leading to the site, hundreds of people came to 
see the crater with their own eyes, and take photographs of it with cameras 
and mobile phones.

"Residents heard an extremely loud gun-like explosion Tuesday evening 
around 1 a.m. At the same time, a number of residents saw a bright object 
falling from the sky," Made Tekek Arimbawa, a neighborhood leader, told 
reporters.

The hole first noticed Tuesday morning by I Wayan Miasa, 60, the owner of 
the field.

Made said he ordered the owner to wait for an explanation from the 
authorities before using the field again.

"We don't know for sure what it is," he said.

Sukawati police chief Comr. Ida Bagus Bedanajati said pieces of rock were 
found in the alleged meteorite crater.

"The rocks we found resembled pumice but didn't float -- it sank in water," 
he said.

He said the impact had not altered the structure of the soil or killed any 
plants or animals in the surrounding area.

"There were no casualties or material losses. What we do next is wait for 
the experts," he said.

The police had secured the area with a police line.

Bali is home to many mystic beliefs where odd and supernatural occurrences 
like flying fire balls are not unheard of.

The Balinese describe the occurrences as niskala which refers to the world 
of "unseen" phenomena.

Bandung Flight and Space Institute sun and space researcher Thomas 
Djamaludin said Wednesday he believed the unidentified object was a 
meteoric fragment.

He said he suspected a larger fragment had created the hole as it was 
impossible for small fragments to create the loud noise heard by residents.

The fragment would not cause radiation effects dangerous to humans, 
Djamaludin said.

Fragments were "only dangerous at the time of their explosive impact, with 
a fallout of hot debris ... After that they are harmless," he said in Bandung.