Eastern Mediterranean Event
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The Eastern Mediterranean Event was a high-energy aerial explosion over the Mediterranean Sea, around 34ºN 21ºE (between Libya, Greece and Crete) on June 6th, 2002. This explosion, similar to a small atomic bomb, has been related to an asteroid undetected while approaching the Earth. The object disintegrated and no part was recovered. Since it didn't reach the surface and it exploded over the sea, no crater was formed.
Similar to the Tunguska event, the asteroid —about 30ft in diameter— exploded as a consequence of the energetic alterationa of atmospheric entries. It was detected by satellites and seismographic stations, with a calculated yield of about 26 kt (doubling Hiroshima, approximately Nagasaki, a small modern nuclear bomb). Had it detonated on a populated area, the consequences would have been catastrophic.
Additionally, India and Pakistan —nations with nuclear weapons— were in a high alert. It has been said that had the explosion happened in this area (quite probable, since the position of the Eastern Mediterranean Event and the disputed Kashmir territory are in the same latitude, thus being a matter of only a few hours by cause of Earth rotation), it could have been possibly taken for an attack, potentially triggering a nuclear war between these countries.
