Argentina: Extraterrestrials in Trevelin? Resident Claims Having Seen UFO in 1978

 Source: Diario Esquel (Argentina)

Date: October 6, 2026

Article by Mariano Romero Cuestas

Extraterrestrials in Trevelin? Resident Claims Having Seen UFO in 1978

Forty-eight years ago, *Diario Esquel* ran a sensational front-page story: the sighting of a 25-meter-long spacecraft. A local resident, a farmhand paralyzed by fear, and a police officer acting as a key witness were the central figures in this incredible close encounter on the road to the Futaleufú Dam—a case that sparked a debate about the possibility of extraterrestrial life.

Throughout its history, Esquel and the surrounding region has been the setting for curious events documented in the local press. Among these archives is a case from 1978, when a Trevelin resident claimed to have seen a UFO near his farm. The incident received prominent coverage in *Diario Esquel* and prompted the reporter of the time to offer a profound reflection on the possibility of extraterrestrial life.

The event took place nearby: on the road to the Futaleufú Dam, in the vicinity of Trevelin. The central figure was a local resident named Eilir Hughes, who claimed to have seen a strange, luminous disc on more than one occasion while heading to his farm.

The story was published on Wednesday, October 4, 1978, under the headline "New controversy surrounding THE APPEARANCE OF A UFO IN TREVELIN."

The original clippings are part of the *Diario Esquel* historical collection preserved in the Newspaper Archive of the Esquel Municipal Public Library—a resource that allows us to revisit various episodes of daily life in the region.

According to the newspaper report, Hughes was heading to his farm on the previous Saturday night (September 30). He was driving along the road to the Futaleufú Dam and was just meters away from the turnoff for the municipal nursery when, according to his account, a luminous object passed over his vehicle.

Hughes himself recounted the events to the journalist:

"It was around 11:00 PM as I was coming down this hill, and suddenly a luminous disc crossed over the cab of my pickup truck; I kept going," says Hughes, "and stopped right here, at the intersection where I always turn to go to the farm. I stood there watching as it settled about 50 meters away, hovering a meter above the ground without actually touching it."

The account even included a fairly precise description of the object: Hughes spoke of a disc between 20 and 25 meters in diameter that remained suspended about a meter off the ground and emitted lights of various colors, "like a rainbow."

Furthermore, in his report, Hughes stated that a farmhand working with him, named Roberto Ferreyra, had also witnessed the event. According to this account, Ferreyra "was very agitated" and terrified.

Hughes's story indicates that, after watching the object for a few minutes, he set off for Trevelin to file a report at the police station. He then recounted seeing "the saucer take flight" and follow them for two kilometers.

According to the news report, Hughes decided to return to Trevelin to file a report at the police station. As he told it, police officers returned with him to the spot where he had seen the object. Among them was Corporal Austin, who was explicitly mentioned in the article. Hughes recounted the events:

"Once I arrived at the police detachment, and as we were heading out here accompanied by the driver and some personnel, Corporal Austin saw the disc just as we did; it was moving away while changing color."

Thus, the episode—which had begun with the account of a local resident—came to include other names: Roberto Ferreyra, the farmhand who was with him that night, and Corporal Austin, as well as the driver and other members of the force mentioned in the article. These names were recorded in the pages of the newspaper, forever linked to that peculiar story.

Hughes’s account also mentioned a second sighting. On the night of Sunday, October 1, while returning to the farm with his wife, he saw the object again. This time, according to his story, the disc did not stop; it turned and moved away.

The resident even told the newspaper he intended to return to the site to try to get a photograph. The article appeared at a time when UFOs already held a significant place in popular culture and the conversations of the day.

The *Diario Esquel* journalist did not limit himself to simply reporting the testimony. Following the account of the incident, he included an extensive reflection titled "Truths and Lies About UFOs."

The text argued for the need to view these phenomena with a degree of detachment and questioned both those who categorically claimed the existence of extraterrestrial beings, as well as those who denied it without analyzing the available arguments.

In that context, the article also referred to the impact that certain film productions of the time—such as *Star Wars* and *Close Encounters of the Third Kind*—were having.

Both films were part of a cultural phenomenon that defined those years. Interest in space, extraterrestrials, and the possibility of contact with other civilizations had made a strong impression on cinema and everyday conversation alike.

The article proposed a stance it described as more "realistic and balanced," noting that accounts regarding flying saucers should be considered in light of available data.

To support this line of reasoning, it cited figures regarding the number of stars and planets that might exist in the Milky Way and posed a question that ultimately went beyond the specific incident in Trevelin.

The piece concluded with thoughts on the possibility of life existing beyond Earth, suggesting an approach to the UFO phenomenon that—in the words of the text itself—was "a bit more objective and realistic."

In October 1978, according to Eilir Hughes, a mysterious object appeared over the road leading to the Futaleufú Dam. Roberto Ferreyra, Corporal Austin, and other police officers were also cited as witnesses to the sighting. *Diario Esquel* documented the entire event.

Almost half a century later, it is impossible to know exactly what they witnessed, and the explanation remains an enigma. Nevertheless, the historical record allows us to reconstruct the episode today. After all, the history of Esquel and the region is not composed solely of major events; it also lives on in those curious news stories that once filled the newspaper's pages and, with the passage of time, were preserved in the archives.

[Translation ©2026 Inexplicata, special thanks to Gloria Raquel]

1973: "Something Strange is Happening in the Monterrey Sky"

 

[The 1973 UFO wave in the United States was also felt south of the border, as this item from Santiago García's "Ovnis en México" shows us - SC] 

1973 "Something Strange Is Happening in the Monterrey Sky"

 El Norte newspaper, Monterrey. Monterrey, September 7, 1973 – Many Monterrey residents have reported to *El Norte* that something strange is happening in the skies over the city, particularly regarding events on the previous Wednesday night.

Some suggest that these seemingly strange phenomena are actually man-made objects that appear unusual when flying through the dark sky.

Others claim they are airplanes, noting that the incident on Wednesday night involved a plane crashing into a hill, which caused a brilliant flash of light.

Still others speak of UFOs.

There is also talk that these are merely astronomical phenomena, and that what is being seen—and what has been seen—over Monterrey is simply the appearance of a celestial body.

In short, everyone agrees that something strange occurred on Wednesday night, when an object emitting intense light and moving at extraordinary speed was spotted in the Monterrey sky.

Mr. Antonio Cantú, a resident of the El Roble neighborhood, reported seeing a luminous object over one of the peaks of Cerro de las Mitras on Wednesday night; it would hover in mid-air and then move at extraordinary speed. He added that his neighborhood subsequently filled with a certain mist or smoke, which he initially attributed to the takeoff or landing of an airplane.

He stated that this occurred around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

A woman residing in the Las Fuentes neighborhood, who wished to remain anonymous, reported seeing a burst of lights in the Monterrey sky that same Wednesday night—resembling a meteor shower—which emitted an intense glow and moved at high speed.

Meanwhile, Mr. José Lara Valdés, a resident of the San José neighborhood, reported that he... ...also saw a strange object that settled over the peaks of Cerro de las Mitras during the night.

He noted that it was a bright object emitting an intense light; it remained suspended before moving off at high speed.

Additionally, Mr. Alberto Taboada came to our newsroom to report that he, too, had witnessed an unusual event on Wednesday night.

Taboada stated that he was driving along the Laredo-Monterrey highway toward the latter city; upon reaching Sabinas, an intense light completely illuminated his car. He added that, as he was already close to Sabinas, he drove to a gas station at the town's entrance—owned by Mr. Mario Ancira.

Together, they observed the situation and saw a series of luminous objects moving from north to south, heading toward Monterrey.

Argentina: Zone 72 - The Mysterious Site in La Plata Where UFO Reports Multiplied

 

Source: Punto Capital Noticias (Argentina)

Date: October 1, 2026

 Zone 72: The Mysterious Site in La Plata Where UFO Reports Multiplied

 Between 10th and 20th Streets, along 72nd Avenue and just meters from the historic Meridiano V neighborhood, lies a stretch of land that has fueled one of La Plata’s most distinctive urban legends for decades. Sightings, strange lights, small objects, and mysterious marks on the grass are all part of a story that local ufologists began investigating in the mid-20th century. As the month of Halloween begins, Punto Capital Noticias presents a series of special features on mysteries, legends, and terrifying episodes linked to the city; this is the first installment.

 La Plata has its own stories capable of fueling a night of conversation among neighbors. Some originated around old buildings, others were passed down through generations, and some found the perfect setting in the sky to become legends. Among the latter, one name still sparks curiosity: Zone 72.

 The site is located on 72nd Avenue, in an area that various investigations and publications place roughly between 10th and 20th Streets—on the southern edge of the city center and very close to the Meridiano V neighborhood. Since the mid-1950s, accounts have accumulated there from people claiming to have seen unidentified objects or lights.

 La Plata Has Its Own "Uritorco"

Over the years, these accounts have built a sort of map of La Plata’s mysteries. The area began to be cited by UFO researchers, local media, and residents who claimed to have witnessed strange events. For the Argentine UFO Foundation (FAO), the sector became a point of interest due to the recurring nature of the testimonies. 1954: The strange object that appeared near a group of young people

One of the earliest incidents associated with "Zone 72" dates back to 1954, the year that marks the beginning of this unique story. According to an account gathered by FAO researchers, a group of young people reportedly spotted a small, white object that hovered briefly in the vicinity of the area.

 Reconstructions indicate that the device was small and—after appearing to be resting on the ground—rose up and sped away toward the west. Over time, researchers studying the phenomenon described it as a type of "probe" based on its characteristics.

 This was not an isolated incident. For researchers who tracked the area's history in the following decades, that alleged sighting was the first in a series of accounts that would eventually make Avenue 72 one of the locations in La Plata most closely associated with UFO activity.

 However, there is no independent evidence to determine exactly what the object was. What remains on record are the eyewitness accounts and subsequent reconstructions carried out by researchers of the phenomenon.

 1957: Another tiny object and a new story

Three years later, another account with similar characteristics emerged. In the winter of 1957, a local resident named Juan Maldonado reportedly spotted a small object near a cane field at the intersection of 9th and 74th Streets—not far from the site of the previous incident—at around 8:00 a.m.

 The description is striking: according to the testimony collected by the FAO, the device was approximately 40 centimeters in diameter, with an appearance the witness likened to a centerpiece covered in frost.

 The account states that Maldonado began to approach the object slowly, but upon sensing his proximity, the object reportedly gained altitude and vanished rapidly. The resemblance to the 1954 incident fueled the idea that this was not an isolated event, but rather a series of phenomena concentrated in a very small area of ​​the city.

 Lights, pyramidal objects, and other incidents

Over the decades, the list of stories linked to "Zone 72" grew. Accounts cited by local media and FAO researchers include a luminous, metallic object that reportedly moved slowly in a vertical direction in 1985, and—three years later—the alleged passage of a silent, gray, pyramidal object.

 In the 1988 case, the story incorporated an element that would become a hallmark of the legend: a few days after the alleged sighting, researchers discovered a circular mark in the grass. According to published accounts, the mark was approximately four meters in diameter and had a greenish hue.

The mysterious circular marks on the grass

The traces constitute one of the best-known chapters in the history of Zone 72. According to researchers linked to the FAO, around twenty circular marks were detected in 1999 on the ground located in the vicinity of 72nd Avenue.

Researcher Luis Burgos recounted years later that the marks appeared in a busy section of the avenue's central median—a detail that particularly drew the attention of those studying the alleged phenomena. Some showed dried-out grass, while others were described as having hues that differed from the surrounding terrain.

In the field of ufology, these traces were incorporated into the site's body of case studies. However, their origin was never proven to be the result of a spacecraft landing. This is precisely where a distinction arises between the journalistic account of Zone 72 and ufological interpretations: while records and testimonies regarding the marks exist, there is no scientific explanation confirming they were produced by extraterrestrial objects.

The 2007 snowfall and the green flashes

The story gained another peculiar episode on July 9, 2007, during the historic snowfall that blanketed much of La Plata. According to their accounts, some local residents claimed to have seen strange green flashes over the 72nd Avenue median.

The unique aspect of the story lay in the context. The city was experiencing an extraordinary weather event, and amidst the snow and unusual visibility conditions, accounts emerged regarding lights that some residents immediately linked to the history of "Zone 72."

As with other episodes, there is no evidence confirming an extraterrestrial origin for these lights. However, the story became part of the area's informal lore, reigniting a question that has persisted for decades: why do so many different stories seem to converge on this specific area?

The "energy corridor" theory

One of the most striking explanations emerged from within the field of ufology itself. Luis Burgos, a leading figure at the Argentine Ufology Foundation, noted that one hypothesis regarding the concentration of these phenomena relates to the old railway lines running through the area.

For researchers who support this view, the tracks might act as a sort of corridor linked to the recurrence of these phenomena. This explanation is a ufological hypothesis rather than a scientifically proven theory regarding an energy source connected to UFO activity.

The link to the railway, however, makes clear geographical sense: Zone 72 is closely tied to the historic setting of the Meridiano V station. In fact, the current Meridiano V Historic-Cultural District encompasses part of 72nd Avenue and the streets surrounding the old railway complex.

Thus, the old tracks became part of the lore surrounding Zone 72, offering a potential explanation for the cluster of accounts that—dating back to the 1950s—have repeatedly emerged from this relatively small area.

From UFOs to new local legends

The advent of the Internet and social media did not cause the myth to vanish; on the contrary, it found new ways to spread. In 2019, for instance, the story of a student who claimed to have had a strange experience during a stormy night near the intersection of 19th and 72nd Streets made the rounds.

The account involved a cat, a powerful lightning strike, and a series of events that the individual linked to "Zone 72." The story quickly spread across social media, sparking new amateur investigations into the alleged phenomenon.

That episode illustrates how the legend has evolved over time. It is no longer just about flying saucers and lights in the sky; Zone 72 has become a setting where new stories, testimonies, and personal experiences can be incorporated.

Some studies even suggest that part of the contemporary narrative surrounding the area took on the characteristics of a transmedia experience, with stories circulating across various platforms and feeding into one another.

Mystery, coincidence, or urban legend?

Zone 72 exists both as a physical location and as a cultural phenomenon in La Plata. What remains open to interpretation is the nature of the events associated with it over the decades.

From the perspective of ufology, the succession of testimonies constitutes a body of cases worthy of investigation. From a more skeptical viewpoint, the accounts can be attributed to atmospheric phenomena, errors in perception, hard-to-identify conventional objects, or simply the gradual construction of an urban legend.

The fact remains that the story has endured for generations. From the small object described in the 1950s to the lights spotted during the 2007 snowfall and the tales that later circulated on social media, 72nd Avenue holds a special place in the collective imagination of La Plata.

And perhaps that is the true uniqueness of "Zone 72": there is no need to solve the mystery for it to remain part of the city's identity.

[Translation © 2026 Inexplicata with thanks to Gloria Raquel and Punto Capital Noticias]