Jeffreys Bay, South Africa — Residents of South Africa’s Western Cape Province were startled on Sunday by what they initially believed to be an earthquake. Reports quickly emerged from Jeffreys Bay and Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape, suggesting the true cause was far more celestial.
Eyewitness accounts and initial confusion
Multiple residents reported hearing “explosions” and described seeing a flash of blue light streaking across the sky. “Felt it in Aston Bay. All the windows rattled. Thought a Hadeda had crashed into a window,” one person wrote on Facebook. Another added, “Heard it in Sunridge Park this morning – we were outside and I thought it was thunder, which was odd though.”
Meteorite or satellite?
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the object, potentially a meteorite or a satellite, may have landed near the Patensie area. Witnesses also mentioned seeing a blue flash before the object crashed into the ocean. Garth Sampson, a former South African Weather Service employee and current administrator of the Facebook page “Weather Guru,” weighed in on the situation.
“My Rainfall group in the Langkloof started reporting what sounded like an earthquake. Later reports came through of what seems to look like a meteor or satellite. It apparently hit in the Patensie area. The video has been doing rounds on many groups and was sent by TSITSIKAMMABOERTJIE from Assagaaibosch ….. NO EARTHQUAKES WERE RECORDED…..” the Weather Guru Facebook page stated.
Resident reactions
Social media was flooded with reactions from startled residents. One Jeffreys Bay local wrote, “I nearly had a heart attack! Sounded like a plane low over our house!” Another witness from the Cockscomb area recounted, “We were in the Cockscomb area and heard it. Firstly thought it was thunder, then thought of a rock fall in the mountains. Rather scary. So grateful it landed in the sea.”
Awaiting official confirmation
As of now, authorities have not provided any official response to the reports. The lack of seismic activity confirmed by Garth Sampson adds weight to the theory that the mysterious object was indeed a meteorite or satellite.
