Residents of eastern Uzbekistan were left startled after a mysterious object reportedly streaked across the sky and appeared to fall in the Namangan region, triggering a powerful flash, loud boom, tremors, and smoke.

The incident occurred shortly after noon on February 19, The Caspian Post reports via Uzbek media.

Witnesses in the Namangan Region described seeing a bright burning trail in the sky, followed by what felt like an earthquake. Some residents claimed windows were damaged by the shockwave. Photos of dark-colored fragments found in the area quickly spread across local Telegram channels.

Aviation enthusiast Makhmudkhon Odilkhonov, who was near Namangan Airport at the time, said he heard a thunderous sound between 12:30 (GMT+5) and 13:00 and initially thought it was seismic activity.

“It felt like an earthquake,” he said, adding that black smoke remained visible in the sky for nearly two hours. Shortly after, videos emerged from central Tashkent showing a fiery trail cutting across the sky at approximately 12:35 - the same timeframe reported in Namangan.

Dashcam footage shared online shows a bright object moving rapidly before suddenly disappearing.

The Institute of Astronomy of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan stated that specialists are studying the phenomenon but stressed there is no confirmation that the object was a meteorite. Experts noted that millions of small cosmic bodies enter Earth’s atmosphere daily, most burning up before reaching the surface.

“If no fragments reached the ground, it is impossible to determine the exact nature of the phenomenon,” the institute said, adding that the probability of meteorites falling in populated areas is extremely low.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan’s Emergency Ministry reported that it had received no official information about any incidents in the region.

As investigations continue, the unexplained flash has sparked widespread discussion across social media, with residents awaiting clarity about what exactly lit up the Uzbek sky.