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Rory Carroll, Latin America correspondent
Tuesday September 18, 2007
Guardian Unlimited

The meteorite impact crater high in the Peruvian Andes

The meteorite impact crater high in the Peruvian Andes is said to be emitting noxious fumes. Photograph: EPA


A meteorite has struck a remote part of Peru and carved a large crater that is emitting noxious odours and making villagers ill, according to local press reports.

A fireball streaked across the Andean sky late on Saturday night and crashed into a field near Carancas, a sparsely populated highland wilderness near Lake Titicaca on the border with Bolivia, witnesses said.

The orange streak and loud bang were initially thought to be a plane crashing. When farmers went to investigate, however, they found a crater at least 10m wide and 5m deep, but no sign of wreckage.

The soil around the hole appeared to be scorched and there was a "strange odour", a local health department official, Jorge López, told Peru's RPP radio.

Later the farmers complained of headaches and vomiting. Police who went to investigate the crater were also stricken with nausea, prompting authorities to dispatch a medical team that reached the site today.

"The odour is strong and it's affecting nearby communities. There are 500 families close by and they have had symptoms of nausea, vomiting, digestive problems and general sickness," said Mr López.

At least 12 people were treated in addition to seven police officers who required oxygen masks and rehydration.

The farmers expressed fears that what appeared to be chunks of lead and silver around the site could contaminate the soil.

A member of the National Academy of Sciences, Modesto Montoya, told the state press agency that a fallen meteorite did not present any danger unless it hit some structure on impact.

"None of the meteorites that fall in Peru and make perforations of varied sizes are harmful for people, unless they fall on a house," he said. Another meteorite fell to Earth in Arequipa province in June.

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I suspect the crater was carved into an area of underground hot springs, and that the gas is mostly hydrogen sulphide. But further investigation is definitely in order.

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Edited by Hill (09/28/07 11:10 PM)

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very interesting! thanks for post!
on the photo a plain area can be seen around the crater.
are you sure it is the best "general region" for the mark? (maybe 20kms south?)
have gone for some aerial...!
regards,
g

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Rescue teams and experts were dispatched to the scene where the meteorite had left a crater 30m wide and 6m deep, said local official Marco Limache.

"Boiling water started coming out of the crater and particles of rock and cinders were found nearby. Residents are very concerned," he said.
http://www.news.com.au

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Scientists have since been sent to the village of Caranca , located in a remote region of Peru near the border of Bolivia, where they will gather samples of what is believed to be a meteorite. The samples will be taken for analysis in Peru's capital of Lima.
http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/2971

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Edited by syzygy (09/18/07 11:10 AM)

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are you sure it is the best "general region" for the mark? (maybe 20kms south?)

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Nope. It is just to point out the part of the world really. If you find anything more precise, add it to the thread. I'm sure it's not long before we have better information. I have several Google searches set up for it now. If it amounts to anything, I'll transfer the thread it to N&G.

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Translate text
"Eternity is a very long time, especially towards the end" Stephen Hawking (quoting Woody Allen)
"There are all kinds of interesting questions that come from a knowledge of science, which only adds to the excitement and mystery and awe of a flower." Richard Feynman
Iraq war and occupation costs

Post Extras: