News World Watch: Lightning strikes the Empire State Building

Watch: Lightning strikes the Empire State Building

A photographer has captured the exact moment of a lightning bolt striking the Empire State Building during a storm passing through New York City. A frame of the video shared by journalist Henrik Moltke

Lightning strikes the Empire State Building Image Source : PTILightning strikes the Empire State Building

A photographer has captured the exact moment of a lightning bolt striking the Empire State Building during a storm passing through New York City.

A frame of the video shared by journalist Henrik Moltke shows the bolt striking near the top of the skyscraper Monday.

The video that went viral on social media has been named simply, “boom” by Henrik.

Moltke says he saw the storm approaching from his office window and captured the strike by balancing his phone against the glass. He says he "was just lucky."

Lightning strikes on the Empire State Building aren't unusual. The building's website says the structure serves as a lightning rod for the surrounding area and is hit by lightning 23 times a year on average.

Heavy rains and high winds knocked down trees and powerlines in the New York City area Monday evening.

(With inputs from AP)

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