Apparent meteor unsettles many in Puerto Rico amid quakes

An apparent meteor streaked low across the sky in Puerto Rico on Friday, setting social media abuzz as the spectacle amazed some people and unsettled others on an island still being hit daily by small earthquakes.

The bright burning ball was caught by security cameras and people randomly taking pictures and video of other things.

Rafael Rivera, a pharmacist, said he saw and heard the fireball has hep passed over a toll bridge in northern Puerto Rico, briefly worrying it was a malfunctioning plane.

“It was a loud noise,” he said. “I see this ball of fire, very fast and very big, and I said, 'Wow, that can't be a plane because it's going too fast.'"

Some people on social media reported seeing the apparent meteor hit just off the coast of the capital of San Juan. Those reports could not be immediately verified.

Meanwhile, officials at Puerto Rico's main international airport said they captured the event on camera but flight operations were not interrupted.

The event scared many in the U.S. territory that is experiencing strong daily aftershocks following a 6.4 magnitude quake Jan. 7 that killed one person and caused an estimated $200 million in damage along the island's south coast.

Paola Noriega, a chef, said she saw the fireball while standing outside in San Juan.

“With all this trauma that we have as a result of the earthquakes ... one could think it's something catastrophic,” she said.

Her father, appraiser Juan Noriega, watched the spectacle with her.

“All of a sudden, I see a giant ball going across the sky,” he said. “It was orange in color, and coming in like a jet throwing off fumes.”