National Space Agency (Angkasa) has confirmed that the luminous object across the atmosphere followed by a powerful explosion in Sabah yesterday was a rock from outer space that entered the Earth's atmosphere.

Angkasa in a statement today said that the meteoric rock originated from smaller size asteroid fragments of less than 0.5 square metres.

"When entering the atmosphere of the earth at high speed, the rocks scrape with particles in the atmosphere and produce heat which causes them to burn and glow," the statement said.

Last night residents in the Kota Belud district and its surrounding areas in Sabah, were both puzzled and fascinated by a flash of blue and red hues in the sky at 11.26pm. The episode lasted for about four seconds after which there was a loud noise.

According to the statement, the noise was probably due to the explosive heat in the atmospheric space, after which the meteor light disappeared.

The result of the explosions on the meteor rock would break into dust or small fragments that were likely to fall to the ground.

"As it is a common phenomenon, Malaysians especially those in Sabah, need not worry about what happened last night as 95 per cent of the meteors will be burnt and destroyed in the atmosphere," the statement said.

 Twitter and Facebook were also abuzz with views and theories on the flash of light in the sky.

Angkasa also advised the public not to disseminate information that had not been verified, through social media.

- Bernama