Report of a probable meteorite fall in Pilón, Granma: Authorities urge to preserve the site

Alleged meteoritePhoto © Facebook Capture / Revolico Pilón

A small rocky object that fell from the sky was discovered this Saturday in the municipality of Pilón, in the province of Granma, in southern Cuba, and it could be a meteorite, according to the preliminary assessment by a specialist from the National Center for Seismological Research.

Enrique Diego Arango Arias, head of the National Seismological Service and technical director of CENAIS, shared on his public Facebook profile a video of the discovery and described the event as a "likely meteorite fall in Pilón."

In his post, the specialist was emphatic: "It is important to preserve the site, not to touch anything so that it can be studied and the sample analyzed."

The object was found by a group of young people in the locality and handed over to the MININT headquarters in Pilón for safekeeping, as confirmed by Marta Digno, president of the Municipal Assembly of the People's Power, to journalist Marisela Presa.

Captured on Facebook / Enrique Diego Arango Arias

According to the account the young people gave to Digno, when the object fell, it bounced about three times and was red-hot, details that suggest a possible high-temperature impact.

A video shared in the Facebook group "Revolico Pilón" shows two dark, rugged-looking objects on dry ground, with the surrounding area having a reddish color, suggesting that the impact generated heat. The person filming describes the scene with astonishment: "That fell from the sky... it's releasing gas and a terrible smell."

Journalist Marisela Presa, who contacted the municipal authorities directly, specified that the local MININT already has the item in custody and that the investigation into the case is ongoing.

Facebook Capture / Marisela Presa

If confirmed, this would be the sixth meteorite scientifically recorded in Cuba. The country has five confirmed meteorites to date: Las Canas (1844), Bacuranao (1974), Santa Isabel de las Lajas (1994), Viñales (2019), and Ramón de las Yaguas, in Santiago de Cuba (2021).

The most recent and widely publicized case was that of Viñales, in Pinar del Río, where the CITMA confirmed the fall of an ordinary L6 chondrite that fragmented into several pieces, the largest measuring about 11 centimeters.

In November 2024, a possible fall in Matanzas was investigated but could not be confirmed.

Pilón is a coastal municipality in the south of Granma, with approximately 28,752 inhabitants, whose economy is based on fishing and agriculture.

The area has also recorded recurrent seismic activity in recent years, making CENAIS a key player in monitoring such events.

At the moment, there is no official scientific confirmation that the object found is indeed a meteorite; the authorities in Pilón continue to clarify the details of the case.

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CiberCuba Editorial Team

A team of journalists committed to reporting on Cuban current affairs and topics of global interest. At CiberCuba, we work to deliver truthful news and critical analysis.

CiberCuba Editorial Team

A team of journalists committed to reporting on Cuban current affairs and topics of global interest. At CiberCuba, we work to deliver truthful news and critical analysis.