Riga - A remote field in northern Latvia briefly became the site of a media feeding frenzy Monday after local media reported a meteor strike on Sunday night.

But by Monday afternoon, more and more voices were suggesting a non-celestial source for the unusual find. The crater, they said, was the work of human hands.

Geologist Dainis Ozols told news website Delfi. lv he had visited the site and believed the crater was manmade. Local media speculated that the whole incident could be an elaborate hoax.

Uldis Nulle of the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Center initially told the Baltic News Service that the 9-metre wide crater in a field near the village of Mazsalaca could have been caused by a meteorite.

However, later Monday, he had revised his opinion. "This is not a real crater. It is artificial," he said.

Internet message boards in neighbouring Estonia were among the most sceptical commentators, suggesting that the meteorite might do wonders for a bed and breakfast guesthouse located not far away from the impact site.

Earlier, the appearance of footage from the site on the video- sharing website YouTube sparked media interest around the world. The sight of flames leaping from a fresh crater and a fiery ball ablaze in the centre seemed tailor-made for news bulletins. (dpa)