TESTE-DE-BUCH (LA) (33) 18.01.2012

On 18 January 2012 around 22:45 and 19 January around 00:15 in La Teste-de-Buch (33), a couple saw 2 groups of orange fire-like balls pass silently at constant speed. GEIPAN finds this immediately suggestive of sky lanterns. Such sightings are more common on weekends, but Chinese New Year on 23 January could have prompted celebrations during this period. Bordeaux weather showed southerly wind, whereas the reported motion towards Bordeaux would instead suggest southwesterly wind. Lanterns could have been released from one of the many villas or restaurants southwest of La Teste. GEIPAN classifies the case B: probable sky lanterns.