Meteor explodes over coastal Libya

2026, October 4. Libya, Tripoli and parts of the NW of the country. Large Fireball/Terminal Airburst and Shock Wave/Possible Meteorite Fall. Time: 22:28:36 LT (20:28:36 UTC). The fireball travelled primarily over land along the northwestern coast, straddling the interface between the Mediterranean Sea and the Libyan mainland. Visible across Tripoli and neighbouring coastal towns in northwestern Libya, it moved along a near-horizontal trajectory above regions including Ain Zara. Duration: +6 seconds. Inside and outside the capital, people confirmed they had already seen the illuminated object before some heard the loud explosion that shook houses. Residents across land-based suburbs reported shaking walls, rattling doors, and an intense acoustic thud shortly after the optical burst. This suggests the meteor produced a delayed sonic boom and didn't produce electrophonic sound during entry.