CRAZY PEOPLE.

Christ the Redeemer struck by lightning: the impressive photos from Rio de Janeiro

Some photographs have the impressive ability to remind us of the monstrous power of nature when compared with human constructions. Such is the case with these shots of Christ the Redeemer, one of the symbols of the Carioca city, struck by lightning during the thunderstorms that have rocked Brazil in recent days.

The lightning struck exactly the head of the statue (38 meters high, including 8 meters of base), located on top of Corcovado Mountain. This is not the first time we have seen similar shots: back in 2014, some photographers took spectacular images of Christ surrounded by a lightning storm.

A similar phenomenon had already happened in 2013, on the day of the resignation of Pope Emeritus Joseph Ratzinger.

fsbragaphotos - Instagram account
Lightning on Christ the Redeemer
Lightning struck the Christ the Redeemer, one of the symbols of the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, on Feb. 10, 2023.
fsbragaphotos - Instagram account
Fernando Braga shot author
The young photographer Fernando Braga was the one who took the shot, receiving thousands of likes on Instagram and over 20 million views on Instagram
fsbragaphotos - Instagram account
Black-out around the statue
Lightning damaged the spotlights that illuminated the statue, leaving it in the dark. The bad weather also caused the black-out in the lighting of the chapel of Nossa Senhora di Aparecida, which is located under the statue, as well as computer equipment, as reported by the Archdiocesan Shrine of Christ the Redeemer, quoted by the newspaper O Globo.
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Technicians working to assess damage
The head of the Christ, the one struck by the lightning, would not have been damaged, but now technicians are working to assess the situation of the entire sanctuary complex, church authorities let it be known.
Getty images
Image that went around the world
The images immediately went viral, and were picked up by media around the world because of the spectacular nature of the event.
Getty Images
This is not the first time this has happened
Back in 2014 other similar images had filled social media and beyond. Another similar lightning storm had struck one of Christ's arms, as well as created some truly incredible images.
ANSA foto
Lightning over St. Peter's
In 2013, lightning struck the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, Rome. Very curiously, the lightning bolt fell on the exact day of the pope's resignation Joseph Ratzinger.
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