A mysterious bright flash turned night into day over a huge area of Russia – sparking fears the US had launched a strike on North Korea.  The explosion of light accompanied by the ‘ground shaking’ was also blamed on a UFO visitation or a meteor exploding in the atmosphere. The phenomenon was seen and felt over thousands of miles in Russia, but was especially evident in three regions Bashkortostan, Udmurtia, and Tatarstan.

Russian officials and scientists immediately denied that there had been a Russian missile test or any reported space rock crashing to earth. Videos show how for a few moments the dark night sky – just after midnight in the Urals – was lit up, turning a vivid blue as if on a bright summer’s day. ‘It lit the night sky from side to side, making it look brighter than daylight,’ said one account. READ MORE