Lightning struck Rio's Jesus Christ statue and broke off his fingers

[jakeXT]

Rio de Janeiro, which has been getting lit up with lightning storms this week, just got hit with another one—and this one struck the city's famous 125-foot tall Christ the Redeemer statue on top of the Corcovado mountain. A lightning bolt broke off a few fingers on his right hand.

According to the National Institute of Space Research (in Portuguese), more than 40,000 lightning flashes (!) hit the area during the three hour storm. And when you put a giant statue on top of a hill, well, that's bound to attract some lightning bolts. On average, Christ the Redeemer usually gets struck with lightning 3-5 times per year. Here's another angle:

http://sploid.gizmodo.com/lightning-struck-rios-jesus-christ-statue-and-broke-of-1503947641

[delta17]

1. That is an incredible picture. nt.

[chrisa]

10. +1 - Ominous

[trusty elf]

2. Wow, Zeus is pissed!

[IMG][/IMG]

[Art_from_Ark]

7. Well, he's not going to be able to do much damage

throwing asparagus spears at statues

[malaise]

3. The weather was so bad in Brazil that even Southern Suriname

had a very rare hail storm

[Egalitarian Thug]

4. One more piece of evidence that delusions are no protection from chance or nature. n/t

[flying rabbit]

5. Is this a sign that God wants us to cut off our fingers?

[theHandpuppet]

9. No, he just doesn't want us to point

Bad manners.

[JaneyVee]

6. THANKS OBAMA!

[treestar]

11. lol

[theHandpuppet]

8. Remarkable photo

I've always wondered what determines the path lightning takes as it moves through the atmosphere? Those bolts of lightning look like illuminated pieces of tangled string.

[Vashta Nerada]

12. I'm sure Jesus is used to hand injuries by now.

[MisterP]

13. and a voice boomed from the Heavens, "moito breves!!!"

[Barack_America]

14. He fared better than the Big Butter Jesus.

I read they rebuilt him, hopefully this time not out of flammable foam.

[dawg]

15. "What part of 'Make no graven images' did you not understand?"

- God.

[Coyotl]

16. O.K., that's gotta hurt!