EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN EVENT

The 'Eastern Mediterranean Event' was a high-energy aerial explosion over the Mediterranean Sea, around 34ºN 21ºE (between Libya and Crete, Greece) on June 6th, 2002United States Space Command. Speech by Gen. Simon Worden: "Military Perspectives on the Near-Earth Object (NEO) Threat" Retrieved on 2007-04-24.. This explosion, similar to a small atomic bomb, has been related to an asteroid undetected while approaching the Earth. The object disintegrated and no part was recovered. Since it didn't reach the surface and it exploded over the sea, no crater was formed.
Similar to the Tunguska event, the asteroid —about 30ft in diameter— exploded as a consequence of the energetic alteration of atmospheric entries. It was detected by satellites and seismographic stations, with a calculated yield of about 26 kt (doubling Hiroshima, approximately Nagasaki, a small modern nuclear bomb). Had it detonated on a populated area, the consequences would have been catastrophic.
Additionally, India and Pakistan —nations with nuclear weapons— were in a high alert. It has been said that had the explosion happened in this area (quite probable, since the position of the Eastern Mediterranean Event and the disputed Kashmir territory are in the same latitude, thus being a matter of only a few hours by cause of Earth rotation), it could have been possibly taken for an attack, potentially triggering a nuclear war between these countries.^[1][2]

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Notes

1. Cambridge Conference Correspondence quoting Press Association feed July 14th, 2002. Asteroids 'could spark a nuclear war' Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
2. BBC News, September 9th, 2002. Near-Earth objects dangerous, general says Retrieved on 2007-04-24.

See also

★ Tunguska event

★ Vitim event

★ Cando event

★ Potentially hazardous asteroid

★ Near Earth object

External links

★ Speech by Gen. Simon Worden: "Military Perspectives on the Near-Earth Object (NEO) Threat"

★ Eastern Mediterranean event

★ Near-Earth objects pose threat