YeinJee's Asian Journal

Hundreds of people have suffered headaches, nausea, and respiratory problems after a meteorite crashed in southern Peru. The meteorite landed in Carangas, Puno, southern Peru last weekend (Sep 16) and created a crater 65ft wide and 20ft deep.

Jorge Lopez, director of the health department in the southern state of Puno, said at least 200 people had become ill after inhaling “toxic” fumes emanating from the resulting crater; but a team of doctors who reached the isolated site said they found no evidence the meteorite had caused sickness.

Modesto Montoya, a member of the medical team, told El Comercio that fear may have provoked psychosomatic ailments.

“When a meteorite falls, it produces horrid sounds when it makes contact with the atmosphere,” he said. “It is as if a giant rock is being sanded. Those sounds could have frightened them.” [Telegraph]