A shocking and devastating meteorite shower -- being compared to the Bruce Willis movie, Armageddon -- burnt up the sky Friday morning before exploding over Russia.

The shower caused shock waves and sonic booms that shattered thousands of windows and caused fires.

More than 550 people sought medical attention, and 34 people were hospitalized in central Russia.

Russia's Emergency Ministry said tiny pieces of the space rock hit a lake near Chelyabinsk, about 930 miles east of Moscow.

Spokesman Vladimir Stepanov estimated that 270 buildings had been damaged as result of the incident, and RIA Novosti news agency reported that 20,000 emergency response worker