Giant debris fallen from the sky in Côte d'Ivoire: the investigation is ongoing

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In Ivory Coast, would a spacecraft have fallen from the sky? At the start of the week, giant objects crashed in Béoumi, in the center of the country. International experts say it is debris from a Chinese rocket launched into orbit last week. For their part, the Ivorian authorities do not formally confirm and state that investigations are still underway to determine the nature and origin of the objects.

Publicity

with our correspondent in Abidjan, Sidy Yansané

"We first thought it was a thunderclap," explains Jean-Marc Kouassi, the mayor of Béoumi. Last Monday, a deafening uproar surprised the inhabitants of the department located a few kilometers from Bouaké. By going to the scene of the noise, the villagers discover amazed, in the middle of the bush, metal objects of several meters wide and warn the gendarmerie.

If residents ignore the nature of objects dropped from the sky, international experts claim that they are debris from the Chinese Long March 5 rocket , in orbit since its launch on May 5. Information quickly confirmed by the foreign press.

It was indeed expected that debris from the aircraft would crash off the West African coast in the Atlantic Ocean. But a few pieces landed in the center of the Ivory Coast. Fortunately in uninhabited areas. So neither victims nor material damage.

The Ivorian authorities have not officially confirmed that it was the Chinese rocket, but according to the head of communication of the Ministry of Security, Yves Zogbo, everything suggests that it is indeed a spacecraft . The Ivorian state, which was not aware of the operation, is continuing the investigations and has not ruled out demanding accountability from those responsible. It will obviously be China.

► Read also: In China, a piece of a rocket falls on a densely populated area

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• Ivory Coast
• Space