russia-meteor-AP-670
In this photo provided by E1.ru a meteorite contrail is seen over a village of Bolshoe Sidelnikovo, 50 kilometres of Chelyabinsk on Feb 15, 2013. — Photo by AP

CHELYABINSK, Russia: A small army of workers is laboring to replace the estimated 200,000 square metres of windows shattered by the shock wave from a meteor that exploded over Russia's Chelyabinsk region.    

The astonishing Friday morning event blew out windows in more than 4,000 buildings in the region, mostly in the capital city of the same name and injured some 1,200 people, largely with cuts from the flying glass.

Fifty of them remain hospitalised, but their injuries are reported to be not life-threatening.

Regional governor Mikhail Yurevich on Saturday said damage from the explosion is estimated at one billion rubles ($33 million).

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