Red ball and intense light in Saint-Macaire

Summary

On May 10, 1981, witnesses in Saint-Macaire observed an unusual luminous phenomenon. A red ball in the sky seemed to descend slowly before bursting. Suddenly, an intense light emerged from a triangle, illuminating the area. Then, a dense white mist appeared near the ground. This event repeated four times with intervals of about 10 minutes. Although it seemed otherworldly, the investigation concluded it was likely an illusion caused by flares launched during the night of the presidential election results.

The witnesses described an impactful and repetitive experience, with lights and mist that caused confusion. However, GEIPAN researchers concluded the phenomenon was not of unknown origin. The flares launched during the celebration of the election results explained the lights and mist. Despite the explanation, the case remains interesting due to the clarity of the descriptions and the repetition of the phenomenon, which left a strong impression on the witnesses.