15 Feb 2013 16:22

Dozens of pieces of debris from large meteor reached Earth - Emergency Situations Ministry

MOSCOW. Feb 15 (Interfax) - The meteorite that fell in the Chelyabinsk region fell into several dozen large pieces, Russian Emergency Situations Minister Vladimir Puchkov said.

"There were several dozen fairly large pieces, of which some reached Earth. Special groups of scientists are now studying these pieces at the site," Puchkov told reporters on Friday.

A laboratory has been deployed in the emergency area, he said. The radiation levels are normal and no chemically dangerous emissions have been registered, he said.

"There is no threat to people's lives or health from other factors either," Puchkov said.

The chemical composition of the pieces will be determined after a comprehensive analysis.