Meteor fireball over Libya and Tunisia

On the evening of October 4, 2026, a bright fireball was observed traversing the skies over western Libya and southern Tunisia. The phenomenon, captured in various social media videos, was characterized by a luminous trail, a noticeable flash, and loud booming sounds that caused speculation among residents in cities such as Tripoli, Misrata, and Zuwara.

The Libyan National Center for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences identified the event as a meteor caused by a celestial body entering Earth’s atmosphere at high speeds. While some witnesses reported hearing noises resembling detonations or feeling slight tremors, authorities did not confirm any seismic activity or the discovery of fragments.

In Tunisia, Hichem Ben Yahia of the Tunisian Astronomical Association noted that such fireballs can range from 50 centimeters to over two meters in diameter and often fragment due to atmospheric friction. He highlighted that while meteoritic fragments can be of high scientific value, they frequently disintegrate before reaching the ground.