A 1,100-pound metal ring from a rocket smashed in to a Kenyan village, where it startled residents and flattened trees

A huge, red-hot object fell from the sky into a Kenyan village on Monday afternoon according to local residents cited by the country’s national broadcaster, prompting an immediate investigation by the national space agency.

No one was hurt by the object, believed to be part of a launch rocket. Experts say the frequency of such incidents is increasing as the amount of debris in orbit around the Earth grows dramatically.

The Kenya Space Agency on Wednesday identified a large metal object that fell from space earlier this week to likely be a separation ring from a rocket launch.

A large metallic ring suspected to be debris from space crashed in southern Kenya’s Mukuku village on Monday, the country’s space agency said. Villagers discovered the “red and hot” ring suspected to be rocket parts at about 3pm local time on 30 December, the Kenyan Space Agency said, adding that it “secured the area and retrieved the debris “.

Sabi pipo from Kenya space agency dey investigate one 500kg metal ring wey crash into Earth on Monday. Di object bin fall enter Mukuku village, 50km (31 miles) south-east of di capital, Nairobi. Report say nobody injure for di crash.