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Meteorite Fragments Injure Hundreds in Central Russia
MOSCOW, February 15 (RIA Novosti) – A hail of meteorite fragments has injured hundreds of people in central Russia, health officials confirmed on Friday.
As of mid-day Moscow time, over 700 people had sought medical assistance in the hard-hit Chelyabinsk Region as a result of the strikes, including 159 children, Chelyabinsk city officials said. Health officials said 112 people had been hospitalized in the region, with two reported to be in a "grave" condition. Most people were hurt by shattering glass.
President Vladimir Putin ordered emergencies officials to provide "immediate" assistance to people affected by the meteorite. Gas supplies were cut off to hundreds of homes in the Chelyabinsk region as a safety precaution. An estimated 20,000 emergency response workers have been mobilized.
Background radiation levels reportedly remain unchanged. This was confirmed both by emergencies officials, and by the national nuclear agency, concerned because the area has a fair number of nuclear facilities.
"Verified information indicates that this was one meteorite which burned up as it approached Earth and disintegrated into smaller pieces," deputy head of the Russian Emergencies Ministry press office, Elena Smirnykh, said.
Source: RIA NovostiThe European Space Agency (ESA) said there was no link between the meteorite and the 2012 DA14 asteroid which is due to pass close by the Earth later on Friday.