Mysterious Bang in the Mediterranean: Earthquake or Meteorite?
On June 20, 2024, a mysterious bang echoed across the Mediterranean, causing windows to burst and houses to sway from Tuscany to Corsica. Initially feared to be an earthquake, the phenomenon sparked widespread confusion and fear. However, experts quickly ruled out this theory, leaving residents and authorities searching for answers.
Possible Causes: Meteorite or Airplane?
The town of Campo nell'Elba reported a 'seismic acoustic event' at 4:30 p.m., which was also heard on the island of Corsica, 60 kilometers away. The Tuscan regional president, Eugenio Giani, initially announced it as an earthquake but later corrected himself after the Italian seismological observatory found no evidence of quakes. Scientists from the region's geophysical institute and the University of Florence suggested the most likely cause was a meteorite entering the atmosphere, moving at a speed of more than 600 kilometers per second.
Ongoing Theories and Past Incidents
Despite the meteorite hypothesis, some experts remain skeptical. An anonymous source from the Italian civil protection agency argued that an impact would have been registered by seismographs, which it wasn't. Another theory suggests the bang could have been caused by an airplane or an underwater gas eruption. Interestingly, this isn't the first time such a mysterious noise has been reported in the region. Similar incidents occurred in 2012, 2016, and 2023, though none have been conclusively explained.
Conclusion: The Mystery Continues
While the meteorite hypothesis remains the most plausible explanation, the lack of concrete evidence leaves room for speculation. The region continues to investigate the cause of these mysterious bangs, hoping to provide clarity and prevent future confusion. Until then, the mystery of the Mediterranean bang remains unsolved, intriguing both residents and scientists alike.
- The town of Campo nell'Elba, on the Italian tourist island of Elba, said on Facebook that a nearby tracking station had 'captured a seismic and acoustic event felt by everyone' at 2:30 p.m. GMT. Corsican media indicated that the event was also felt on the French island.
- For its part, the Italian Air Force assured that it was in no way involved, also added Eugenio Giani. 'The type of event causing a tremor that was felt by many as an earthquake across the entire Tuscan coast and in some inland areas, is not yet confirmed,' he wrote.
- According to scientists from the region's geophysics institute and the University of Florence, the detonation that caused the tremor moved at a speed of 600 km per second. 'The hypothesis of a meteorite entering the atmosphere seems the most probable and corresponds to the recorded data,' estimated these sources.
- However, other hypotheses are on the table. According to an anonymous source from the Italian civil protection agency cited by the Italian daily Corriere della Sera, 'the impact would have been recorded by seismographs. The most likely hypothesis remains that of a plane.' This is not the first time that mysterious detonations have been heard on the island of Elba, specifies Corriere della Sera. Similar events in 2012, 2016 and 2023 have not yet been explained.
