Fireball seen as orca rescue underway in Uruguay

2026, April 26. Uruguay, Playa Mansa, Punta del Este. An orca(killer whale) calf stranded on a beach. After failed rescue attempts, the whale was euthanised. A team continued efforts to save the animal under difficult weather conditions. The animal had stayed close to the shore, showing signs of weakness.

2026, April 27. Uruguay, Playa Mansa. Fireball. Time: around 01:54 UT or 22:51LT. The event was recorded by security cameras and widely observed in Argentina and Uruguay. Duration 6+ seconds. Fragmented over Maldonado. No reports of sonic boom. Seen in Punta del Este, Buenos Aires Province, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Maldonado Department, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Santa Fe. This is the first report of a fireball in Uruguay this year.  

Also: New Zealand, North Island. It had a flurry of activity on the 26th, 27th and 28th across the North Island. One meteor detected on camera was over 10 seconds in duration, low and slow. Overall, about half a dozen were detected over water on both sides of the Island down to Cook Strait, with three stretching over a region of sky south of Auckland (Pacific/Tasman Sea). No NASA airbursts or AMS were logged or reported within the time frame, so it's a wait-and-see scenario. The atmosphere (globally) has been quiet, with the risk of a mass stranding (as I see it) regarded as low. Spyhopping whales on the 24th is a strong indicator that something is annoying them, but hopefully, like the past Chatham Island whales, they will settle. Just a reminder, if meteors are being picked up on camera of a night that restricted time frame allows for added objects not detected during daylight hours so the flux could be much higher than observed.

Southern Ocean Meteor Airburst

Another meteor airburst in this region at this time of year is not great for cetaceans. See the October 17 post regarding Orca deaths in Argentina.

2025, November 15. Southern Ocean, approximately 1500km SW of South America and 1300 km NW of Antarctica. Airburst. Time: 00:48:43. Coordinates: 62.2S, 94.7W. Altitude: 30.0 km. Energy: e = 10.5e10 and 0.32 or 320,000 kg/TNT. This is the 30th airburst of 2025.

Also, like other regions in the world, there has been a high influx of material coming into the UK/Eastern Europe region with corresponding strandings. There will be a delay in data collection, but I will update as soon as it becomes available.

Magellanic penguins, airbursts and the east coast of South America

2010, March 18. Airburst.

In 2010, 550 penguins were found on Brazil's coastline. They were believed to have starved to death. Before 2010, only roughly 10 dead penguins would be expected to be found ashore in a typical year.

2012, May 25. Airburst.

In June 2012, higher numbers were recorded, with 742 Magellanic penguins discovered in a decomposed state on the shores of Brazil. The causes of death were investigated. The birds were young and "natural causes" were assumed.

2023, February 14. Airburst.

In July 2023, more than 2000 dead penguins were washed up on the shores of Uruguay. According to Uruguayan authorities, 90% of these were juveniles without fat reserves and with empty stomachs. All carcasses tested negative for avian influenza. Other dead seabirds, sea turtles and sea lions were found on the coast of the Maldonado Department.

2010

2012

2023

Electrophonic meteors produce light show across South American countries

Brazil, Argentina and Chile have seen a swarm of meteors that have produced electrophonic events caused by VLF radio waves energising the lower atmosphere. Not UFO's.

UFOs in the skies over Brazil, Argentina and Chile stump experts (msn.com)

UFO sightings over Brazil, Argentina and Chile leave experts baffled | Daily Mail Online

Dead Herring Whale in Gulf of Barcelona.

Venezuela, Gulf of Barcelona, Anzoategui. A dead Herring whale was reported dead on February 18. The map below shows bolides detected by NASA on the 17 and 22 of January. The yellow cross is approximately where a Herring Whale was located floating on the surface. It was in an advanced case of decomposition.  

NASA Bolide Network

They found a dead whale in the Gulf of Barcelona in Anzoategui (photo) – Play Crazy Game