The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has increased the chance of a massive asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting Lagos and other cities in Nigeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, India, Ecuador, Colombia, Pakistan and Bangladesh in 2032 to 3.1 per cent. 

Scientists had listed the nine countries as potential nations that could be severely impacted if the asteroid, which is capable of destroying a city about the size of New York, strikes Earth by December 2032, prompting the activation of the Planetary Security Protocol by the United Nations.

According to data released by NASA on Tuesday, the impact probability that the space rock known as 2024 YR4 would hit the Earth has increased to 3.1 per cent, with a potential Earth impact date of December 22, 2032, making it the most threatening asteroid ever recorded by modern forecasting.

Despite the rising odds, space scientists have reiterated that there is no need for concerns, noting that the probability will continue to rise as astronomers gather data but will eventually drop to zero.

“I’m not panicking,” Bruce Betts, chief scientist for the nonprofit Planetary Society said in an interview with AFP agency. 

“Naturally when you see the percentages go up, it doesn’t make you feel warm and fuzzy and good,” he added, But as astronomers gather more data, he explained, the probability will likely edge up before rapidly dropping to zero.”

International space organisations such as the International Asteroid Warning Network, the Space Mission Planning Advisory Group of the United Nations, NASA, and ESA are constantly monitoring the movement of the asteroid.