After carrying out initial investigations, experts concluded that the fireballs that rained down in Chile last month were not meteorites. Since it is not yet clear what caused the fireballs, they are currently being referred to as unidentified flying objects (UFO).

On Sept. 25, residents of Chile’s Dalcahue City on the island of Chiloe spotted several fiery objects raining down from the sky. According to local reports, the objects crashed in various locations in the city, with a couple of them setting off fires.

Based on the appearance of the objects, authorities in the area speculated that the fireballs were caused by meteorites. However, following an initial investigation carried out by Chile’s National Geology and Mining Service, geologists from the agency ruled out the space rocks as the possible cause of the fireballs, Space.com reported.

According to the agency, the geologists made their conclusion after analyzing the sites where the fireballs landed as well as interviewing witnesses.

“Once in the Dalcahue area, geologists headed to the site examining the area of the alleged impact,” the agency stated in an official report. “They worked on seven points corresponding to burnt thickets, where they found no remains, vestiges or evidence of a meteorite falling.”

“Likewise and as part of the investigation, they interviewed local residents, who said they had not seen the fall pf the supposed object or hear noises associated with the fall of a body of this nature,” the agency added.

The report also indicated that geologists from the agency collected soil samples from the fireballs’ impact zones. The agency plans to release another statement regarding the incident once the samples have been analyzed.

“Preliminarily, professionals rule out the fall of a meteorite in this sector and, therefore, that the cause of burning thickets, has corresponded to that situation,” the report stated. “In parallel, geologists collected soil samples for a more thorough and detailed analysis in the Institution's laboratory, final conclusions that will be announced in the coming weeks.”

Since it is not yet clear what the objects really are, they are currently being referred to as UFOs. Of course, this does not mean that the objects are related to extraterrestrial life. According to experts, debris from space such as those from defunct satellites could be the primary cause of the fireballs.

Meteor
Pictured: This image taken with a meteorite tracking device developed by George Varros, shows a meteorite as it enters Earth's atmosphere during the Leonid meteor shower November 19, 2002. Getty Images/George Varros and Dr. Peter Jenniskens/NASA
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