The discovery was made by a resident of the «La Trocha» community, belonging to the Brigadas Cañeras Popular Council, Pilón municipality, Granma province, around 11:00 am on Saturday, 22 August.

Civil Defence in Granma province reports on the established protection and identification protocol, in coordination with Ministry of the Interior forces, following the discovery of an almond-sized object that emitted gases and had the appearance of volcanic rock or metallic scrap, with characteristics very similar to remains of a supposed meteorite.

The discovery was made by a resident of the «La Trocha» community, belonging to the Brigadas Cañeras Popular Council, Pilón municipality, Granma province, around 11:00 am on Saturday 22 August.

Lieutenant Colonel Eber Fonseca Linares, Head of the Civil Defence Body of the province, explained that the protection of the population and the economy is contemplated in Directive No. 1/2022 «for Disaster Risk Reduction Management» of the President of the National Defence Council, in the face of natural hazards of «Astronomical and Space» origin, such as the fall of meteorites that penetrate the high Earth’s atmosphere every day, most of them fragmenting, while a comparatively smaller but potentially dangerous part manages to reach the Earth’s surface, which can represent an enormous disaster hazard.

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1. Immediate actions:

• The impact zone was cordoned off to prevent access by unauthorised persons.

• The object was moved by a young resident in a metal container and deposited at the Pilón Police unit for safekeeping.

• Its controlled transfer to the city of Bayamo was arranged for analysis by specialists from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA), together with geologists and experts from the National Centre for Seismological Research (CENAIS), with the purpose of determining its origin and characteristics.

2. Context of the discovery:

• The object, approximately almond-sized, was found hot and steaming (emitting smoke), about 100 metres from the bridge over the Purgatorio river in the Pilón locality.

• According to witnesses, it had the appearance of stone, a reddish colour and a certain unusual odour.

• The president of People’s Power in Pilón confirmed to the press the testimonies of the young people who made the discovery.

• A resident, Luis Daniel Aliaga Domínguez, initially disseminated the event on social media through a video, which helped alert the authorities.

• Dr Enrique Diego Arango Arias, Head of Seismological Services at CENAIS, made some clarifications on the protocols to follow.

3. Historical precedents in Cuba

Although rare, reports of space objects that have generated scientific interest have been recorded in Cuba:

• In 1994, the fall of a metallic fragment was reported in the Holguín area, later identified as space debris.

• In 2019, a meteorite impacted the Viñales region in Pinar del Río, leaving fragments that were studied by Cuban and foreign specialists.

• These precedents reinforce the importance of having clear protocols for the protection, identification and transfer of space objects, avoiding risks and ensuring their scientific analysis.

4. Message to the population

Civil Defence reiterates that:

• There is no immediate danger to the population in Pilón.

• The object will be studied by specialists (Geologists) to confirm its characteristics, nature and origin.

• The population should remain calm and pay attention only to official information issued by Civil Defence and competent scientific institutions through the media and official websites.