Falling ice mystifies Italians
2003-01-15 12:47
Rome - A large block of ice fell from the sky and smashed through the roof of a pensioners' home in northern Italy at the weekend, rekindling interest in one of meteorology's greatest mysteries.
Giuseppe and Antonia Filigura were having dinner in their home in Gabbio di Nibionna, a small town near Lecco, on Sunday when they heard a loud noise from upstairs, reported the Italian news agency, Ansa.
When the couple's son rushed upstairs, he discovered a hole in the roof and fragments of ice scattered around the bedroom.
According to police, the incident echoes similar episodes that terrorised central and northern Italy three years ago.
A chunk of ice weighing 750g fell from the sky above Ancona in January 200, hitting Massimo Giunchi in the head. The workman wore two hats to protect himself from the cold and had only minor injuries as a result.
More falling ice chunks were reported also in Milan, L'Aquila, Avellino and Venice and followed a wave of unexplained ice falls taking place in Spain.
Outer-space theories scoffed at
Although pranksters were later identified as being responsible for a large percentage of "mysterious ice drops" in both countries, scientists still have not come up with a definite hypothesis to explain the phenomenon.
One explanation is that the ice may have been produced naturally in the atmosphere due to a previously unknown meteorological process. But meteorologists have reacted with scepticism to such suggestions.
Another hypothesis, that the ice represents fragments of a comet, or possibly mini-comets, that have fallen from space, has also been given a lukewarm reception.
Other explanations point to human excrement ejected from aircraft or blocks of ice that detached themselves from the wings of aircraft. - Sapa-DPA
- SAPA