Brazil protest turns terrifying as lightning injures 70+ people
Several people are in serious condition (Photo: Getty Images)
In the capital of Brazil, Brasília, during a severe thunderstorm, lightning struck near people waiting for the start of a protest in support of jailed former President Jair Bolsonaro. At least 72 people were injured, according to the Daily Star.
Sources report that lightning struck the area where Bolsonaro supporters had gathered during the rainstorm, while thousands of people were standing in the square. Rescue teams took dozens of the injured to hospitals, with at least eight people in serious condition.
Meteorologists say Brazil is one of the countries with the highest frequency of lightning strikes in the world, especially during seasonal thunderstorms. The Daily Star notes that this increases the risk of public injuries during extreme weather events.
The incident occurred during a period of frequent and intense thunderstorms in the region, accompanied by heavy rain and lightning. Brazilian security services have reminded the public of the importance of following safety rules during storms to avoid injuries from natural phenomena.
In September last year, Brazil’s Supreme Court sentenced former President Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison for attempting to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election and for an attempted assassination of the elected president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The 70-year-old Bolsonaro, along with other defendants, rejected all charges and called the trial politically motivated persecution.
The week after the verdict, it was reported that Bolsonaro was diagnosed with early-stage skin cancer. Medical professionals noted that the former president requires ongoing health monitoring.
This month, Bolsonaro temporarily left his prison cell for a medical examination and hernia surgery at a hospital in the capital, after which he was returned under guard to the federal police facility in Brasília.
