Update: Latvian mobile operator Tele2 confessed that the meteorite was a hoax, but with good intentions. The company promised to pay the damages caused by the hoax, including fire department and police emergency costs.

The Tele2 representative said in an interview to a local newspaper that the fake meteorite was intended to cheer up Latvians, who are in a grim mood due to the recession and the real estate collapse.

"Look, Latvia is in the news. People talk about our country, and not because of our currency falling," said Yanis Sprogis, a Tele2 executive.

-- end of update --

The meteorite, which was reported to strike a field in Latvia last night, turned out to be a hoax, according to the Latvian Astronomy Institute. The 20-meter crater was apparently shoveled, and its shape is different from those left by meteorites.

Girt Sinkulis, senior scientist with the Latvian University said in an in interview with ITAR-Tass: "Our official conclusion is that the meteorite is a fake. The crater is people-made. We didn't find any meteorite matter in it. What we found was some burned aluminum."

Authorities are considering filing charges against the hoaxers. We think they should reward them instead -- finally, Latvia made the headlines with something other than depreciating currency and falling real estate prices. Now Latvia can compete with the US in the hoax department and even win: isn't meteorite striking a field in Latvia cooler than a baby flying over Colorado in a UFO-shaped balloon?

Here is what Russia Today says on the subject:

Earlier: Meteorite Strikes Latvia [RUSSIA!]