Meteor Explosion Shakes Northeastern US

A meteor exploded over the northeastern US on Saturday, generating a powerful shockwave equivalent to roughly 300 tons of TNT and sending loud booms across the region.

Residents in parts of Massachusetts and New Hampshire reported hearing explosions and feeling their homes shake as the space rock disintegrated in the atmosphere.

According to NASA, the fireball broke apart over northeastern Massachusetts and southeastern New Hampshire. Officials said it was a natural object and was not linked to any active meteor shower or the re-entry of space debris.

NASA said the meteor was travelling at more than 120,000 kilometers per hour at an altitude of around 64 kilometers when it fragmented, releasing energy comparable to a large explosive blast.