Christ The Redeemer statue being hit by lightning caught in incredible photos

A post showing the Christ The Redeemer statue being struck by lightning has recently gone viral.

The incredible series of unbelievably-timed photos was captured by Brazilian photographer, Fernando Braga on February 10 and shows the iconic statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, being hit by a massive electric bolt.

Sharing the photos to Instagram, Braga wrote: "RAIO DIVINO !!! SEXTOU !!!" which translates to "Divine ray, Friday!" before going on to disclose the type of camera he used to capture such detailed imagery.

"[Records made on February 10, 2023 at 6:55 pm (Christ) and 7:03 pm (Antennas) using] NIKON D800 com 70-200mm f/2.8E a 70mm f/8 13" ISO 100."

Have a look at the post below:

The pictures were later shared on Twitter by the popular news account, Pop Base, where they received thousands of likes and comments from social media users speculating on the rare biblical event.

"This is kinda terrifying," commented one user, while another agreed, saying: "Oh this is actually haunting what the f**k."

Some questioned the meaning behind the event.

Others believed they had the answer to that question and turned their attention to giving advice with this user urging people to "turn back to God."

Another added: "It's a sign. It's never too late to find God, pray from within your heart and your prayers will be heard. God's Grace and Mercy is sufficient for everyone."

This user even went as far as quoting a Bible verse to support the view: "'Make corrections with your life and get closer to God. You need God's intervention more than ever, there will be screening, no one will escape it.'"

Those religious theories were quickly debunked by those who believe more strongly in the beauty of science.

"'God is near this is a sign!!!' no baby its literally just the highest point in that area so its going to be struck by lightning. Basic science," this Twitter user said.

And this user went one step further with the facts: "Due to the statue's mountaintop position, it's prone to lightning strikes and gets hit around three to six times a year. Prior to the FIFA World Cup in 2014, lightning struck and broke one of the statue's thumbs."

Well, whatever this means, it sure is an incredible sight to see.

Braga typically uses his platform to share lots of different snapshots of the iconic monument, but judging by the reaction, these are perhaps some of his best.

Featured Image Credit: Peter Adams Photography / Alamy