The Earthquake Lights over Lima
As a great earthquake shook the coast of Peru, flashes of blue and white light lit up the sky over Lima.
What was reported
On the evening of 15 August 2007, a powerful earthquake struck near Pisco, about 150 km south of Lima. As the ground shook in the capital, people saw bright flashes of light over the sea and the city, in blue, white and orange.
Security cameras at a university, the airport and a seaside shopping centre filmed the lights. The videos spread around the world and became some of the clearest recordings ever made of 'earthquake lights'.
Explanations offered
Scientists studied the footage and confirmed that the lights were not caused by power lines or lightning. Earthquake lights have been reported for centuries, and the leading idea is that stress in certain rocks releases electrical charges that reach the surface. Exactly how this works is still being researched.
- When
- 15 August 2007
- Where
- Lima, Peru
- Witnesses
- Security cameras and residents across Lima
- Status
- Partly explained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.