Constance Leverton was making dinner in her Maple Bay home on Vancouver Island Sunday night (Dec. 12) at approximately 5 p.m., when she heard a big boom.

鈥淚t was loud with all the windows closed,鈥� she said.

Reports quickly started hitting social media from people between Victoria and Campbell River who either heard a boom or saw a bright light. Alberni Valley News reporter Elena Rardon was driving back to Port Alberni from Beaver Creek when she saw a bright, yellowish light, moving fast in the direction of Mt. Arrowsmith.

鈥淚 assumed it was a firework, but it was travelling down instead of up,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was very bright and moved fast.鈥�

A site called Volcano Discovery reported an 鈥渦nconfirmed quake or seismic-like event鈥�16 km northwest of Victoria鈥� at 5:05 p.m. Weather enthusiasts and others surmised it was a meteor, and that it was seen in the vicinity of Port Alberni.

Paul (@Paul76966495) tweeted 鈥淰ery large meteorite about 5 p.m. spotted from Cobble Hill, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Had very large fire tail. Impact unknown distance or location very large percussion.鈥�

John Cassidy, an earthquake seismologist with Natural Resources Canada and University of Victoria professor said there was 鈥渘othing obvious鈥� on seismographs on the south Island, and doubted it was an earthquake.

鈥淎n exploding meteor (bolide) makes the most sense, seen and heard over a large area鈥攂ut no significant group shaking,鈥� he said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a mystery so far.鈥�

susie.quinn@albernivalleynews.com
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