Meteor Documentation

Jakarta shaken by 'meteor blast'

By Rachel Harvey

BBC News, Jakarta

Reports of unexplained explosions caused alarm on Sunday morning in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.

Indonesia is on a heightened state of alert following warnings that militants may be planning an attack over the Christmas period.

However, Sunday's blasts may not have been made by man but by an extra-terrestrial phenomenon - a large meteor breaking up in the atmosphere.

Some residents reported seeing a large object falling from the sky.

White fire

Local television and radio stations reported an object with a tail of white fire streaking across the sky followed by a loud bang.

Other reports spoke of a series of explosions at around 0730 local time (0030GMT).

Jakarta, like the rest of the country, is on high alert as Christmas approaches.

Extra police have been drafted in to guard places of worship, shopping malls and international hotels as part of increased security measures dubbed Operation Candle.

However, experts say the most likely explanation for Sunday morning's bang was a large meteor exploding as it burned up in Earth's atmosphere.