Latvia meteor: Was 50ft crater a hoax? (Video)
A meteorite is said to have crashed to earth creating a 15-metre wide crater in Latvia.
Locals say the five-metre deep crater was created when a fiery object smashed into a field on the outskirts of the small town Mazsalaca.
Video of the burning object hit YouTube last night sending sky-watchers crazy with excitement.
But doubters now think it could be an elaborate hoax with people having dug out the crater and poured molten metal into it to make it look more genuine.
If it is a hoax it is not clear who could be behind it … though the land-owner who is currently selling tickets to anyone wanting to take a look would have to be pretty high up the list.
Locals say the five-metre deep crater was created when a fiery object smashed into a field on the outskirts of the small town Mazsalaca.
Video of the burning object hit YouTube last night sending sky-watchers crazy with excitement.
But doubters now think it could be an elaborate hoax with people having dug out the crater and poured molten metal into it to make it look more genuine.
If it is a hoax it is not clear who could be behind it … though the land-owner who is currently selling tickets to anyone wanting to take a look would have to be pretty high up the list.
Police have cordoned off the hole to prevent souvenir hunters from getting in and soil and rock samples are being taken to Latvia's capital Riga for testing.
