Meteor Explodes Violently Over Northeastern US, Homes Shake

A meteor that fell to Earth exploded over the northeastern United States on Saturday, May 30, 2026. The event triggered a blast echoing through the region with an explosive force equivalent to 300 tons of TNT.

“This fireball is not related to the current active meteor shower but is a natural object, not space debris or a satellite returning to Earth,” said Jennifer Dooren, NASA’s Deputy Chief of News, on Sunday, May 31, 2026.

“The energy released upon breaking apart is estimated at around 300 tons of TNT, explaining the loud explosion,” Dooren added.

The fireball, according to Dooren, broke apart over northeastern Massachusetts and southeastern New Hampshire at 14:06 (18:06 GMT). NASA confirmed the object was natural. The meteor was travelling at 75,000 mph (over 120,000 km/h) at an altitude of 40 miles when it fragmented.

Local residents were alarmed by the unexpected loud explosion. Social media users reported the blast was so powerful it caused homes to shake.

In 2013, a fireball streaked over Chelyabinsk, Russia. A space rock the size of a house exploded 14 miles above ground, releasing an explosion equivalent to 440,000 tons of TNT, NASA stated.

The blast shattered windows across an area of more than 200 square miles (518 square kilometres), injuring more than 1,600 people, mostly due to flying glass.