[meteorite-list] Giant Fragmenting Fireball (Chihuahua/Sinaloa)

[MexicoDoug]

Dear List,

This was a biggee.

Huge fireball fragments into three large pieces, 4 January 2011 18:50 
hours local time.  There were plenty of witnesses but still no comment 
in the press where those witnesses are, though they may be from the 
initial location reported.

This is what is NOW being claimed as close to the most possible point 
of impact:
 26°22'54.20"N, -107°46'0.00"E

Someone at NASA has apparently provided locational information from 
imaging to authorities involved in the search.

This was the initial location reported:
 25°23'11.61"N, -107°52'11.42"W

But for some very odd reason there was distortion in the press and the 
new one is now being given, which is high in the mountains.  Searchers 
in Sinoloa seem to think it could have fallen here if it "didn't reach" 
the NEW location given above, in this reservoir:
 25°53'9.94"N, -107°52'35.49"W

or near this community, although local authorities (military is 
separate) are throwing their hands up and saying it possibly went 
onward to the NEW location, but maybe it is near here:
 26° 8'47.30"N, -107°53'29.12"W

All the locations are along a line, so that is good, and that line has 
pushed from Sinaloa to Chihuahua, right over the mountanous border.

Hopefully something good comes out of this.

Oh, authorities said, the problem with these is that dangerous gases 
can escape and sicken people (perhaps a reference to Peru).  If the 
area is found, the military will set up another quarantine area.  This 
is not the first time it has been done.  And those are wild hills, some 
infested with guys you wouldn't even want to meet in broad daylight on 
the highway.  But mostly there are very good people (mostly indigenous 
blooded) trying to earn a living in the nearly unpopulated difficult 
terrain.

No detected sound or seismic activity seems reported yet.

Kindest wsihes
Doug