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'This is spectacular': Internet in awe as stunning video shows lightning bolt strike 125ft Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil

The bolt appears to have struck the head of the religious monument on February 10, illuminating it in a bright flash that lit up the night sky

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL: A video capturing a lightning strike on Brazil's iconic Christ the Redeemer statue over the weekend is making waves on social media. The 125-foot structure is visited by nearly two million people every year, and it is only the third time in 15 years that the statue has been hit by such a strike.

The bolt appears to have struck the head of the religious monument on February 10, illuminating it in a bright flash that lit up the night sky. Photographer Fernando Braga was able to capture both images and video footage of the stunning phenomenon as it happened, and the mesmerizing scene has been viewed more than 20 million times online. 

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Snaps of the lightning strike on the world's largest statue of Jesus were first shared on Twitter by the astronomy channel Massimo, which gave credit to Braga for the mind-blowing shot, according to the Daily Mail. 

Braga is a self-professed "hobbyist" who has previously posted several pictures of the statue in day-to-day conditions. Aside from capturing several photos, the photographer was also able to capture video footage that caught the dramatic scene in all its glory.

'Mom! Thor and Jesus are at it again!'

Many on social media wondered whether the rare occurrence was the work of the divine, while others chimed in with humor over the temporal moment.

"Mom! Thor and Jesus are at it again!” one quipped on Twitter. "Damn! I hope it didn't destroy the recent upgrades on the statue. It was built with special cement from my hometown (Malmö, Sweden)," another added. "Ironically their insurance contract doesn’t cover Acts of God," someone else joked.

"Yeah that's Jesus leaving Earth because of everything he's seen," a comment read. "This is spectacular. Even though I know it is a physical event that would be expected, it’s quite a powerful, spiritual symbol. I’ve never been to this place, but I would love to see some of these great sites around the world," another chimed in.

Third lightning strike in decades

Religious viewers noted how the photos of the lightning strike appeared to be a godly scene. However, it was indeed the result of a storm that wreaked havoc in the seaside city of Rio. While the statue did not sustain any damage, many trees and buildings in the area were destroyed. It's worth noting that the last time this happened was in January 2014. At the time, officials revealed how the bolt damaged the structure's thumb, which had to be repaired. The statue, however, came out unscathed when it was struck by lightning for the first time six years prior. The monument's location overlooking Rio could be the reason behind the unusual amount of electrically charged incidents. The iconic structure is notably the largest stone-work of Jesus ever erected, standing a staggering 2,000 feet above the seaside city on top of Corcovado Hill, per the Daily Mail.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.