Second Fireball in the Mediterranean

2026, April 24. Mediterranean, Between Corsica and Sardinia. Fireball. Time: around 22:00CEST, 19:56 UT. Travelling south. Seen from Spain, France and Italy.

Previous: April 24. Ligurian Sea. Fireball. Time: 00:44CEST. Located between the coastal border region of France, Italy and Corsica. Travelling WSW. Duration: 4 seconds. Seen in Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland and Germany.

Ligurian Sea (Pelagos Sanctuary): No major mass strandings have been reported in the 48 hours since the April 24 fireballs. However, this is the most densely populated area for Fin whales and Striped dolphins in the Mediterranean. Local networks (like CIMA Research Foundation and Italy’s CERT) are currently in "high-monitoring" mode due to the spring migratory peak.

Corsica/Sardinia Corridor: The second fireball noted (22:00 CEST) passed directly over the Strait of Bonifacio. This area is a known habitat for Cuvier's beaked whales, which are deep-divers suggests are particularly susceptible to the atmospheric pressure changes or acoustic "thumps" of airbursts. No reports of sonic booms were witnessed from the events above; therefore, the likelihood of a mass stranding is low. 

Marine Animal Disturbance Alert: A 14-day advisory is now in effect for this region. All local residents and visitors should maintain a safe distance from marine life and report any unusual animal behavior or strandings to the relevant authorities immediately.

Sonic boom creates earthquake in Corsica

It will be interesting to see if anything results from these two meteors. Events like this were not unexpected this week.

2024, June 20. Italy/France, Tyrrhenian Sea - Mediterranean. Sonic Boom produced an earthquake in Corsica and also heard on the island of Elba. It happened at 4:30 in the afternoon. At Elba, the town of Campo nell’Elba, a nearby tracking station, “captured a seismic, acoustic event felt by everyone”. An earthquake has been ruled out. Similar events in 2012, 2016 and 2023 have yet to be explained. Six days before on June 14 a large fireball was observed travelling N.N.E across the Ligurin Sea north of Corsica. See map below.

American Meteor Society (amsmeteors.org)

Whales dead in Corsica and spectacular fireball in Portugal - Updated 20240520

2024, May 18. Corsica, Aleria, Serra di Fiumortu and Ghisonaccia, Mediterranean Sea. Three Cuvier's Beaked Whales strand with two dying. The individual at Ghisonaccia was 6 meters long and weighed 1.8 tons.

2024 - Three whales wash up on three separate beaches in Corsica, two are dead (actualnewsmagazine.com)

2024, May 14. Italy, Abruzzo, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Marche and Steiermark. Fireball. Time: 0:06 UT. 2024-05-14 22:06CEST.

American Meteor Society (amsmeteors.org)

2024, May 19. Time 0:46 CET (23:46 Lisbon time). A bright fireball crossed the skies of Spain and Portugal and as far away as France. Meteor (likely a fragment from a comet). It was travelling NW. delivering concurrent and delayed sound. Time: Lisbon time: 23:46 or 0:46 CET. The AMS has the following date/time: 2024-05-18 22:50 UT; 2024-05-19 00:18. Due to this event's atmospheric bruising, a marine animal disturbance alert should be considered for the next 14 to 30 days. Any animals located after 14 days will die quickly or wash ashore already deceased. Affected areas include the coastal waters of Portugal, Spain's northern and southern coastlines, France's southern coast, United Kingdom, Ireland and the Azores. Because of its location past the continental shelf, the risk to Cachalots (sperm whales) is highly likely. The meteor is said to have come in at 40.4km/s, travelled 500km in ten seconds and dismantled at an altitude of 60km over the Atlantic Ocean.