Brazil has more lightning strikes than almost anywhere in the world
Four people from the same family were killed and four others injured by a lightning strike this afternoon in Praia Grande - SP.
Brazil has one of the highest incidences of lightning strikes in the world, with more than 60 million recorded each year. On average 100 people die each year in Brazil as a result of lightning strikes.
With the onset of summer and increased frequency of sudden violent storms you should take precautions. If you are on one of Brazil's many beautiful beaches when a storm blows up, don't hang around to see if it will pass. Leave and find some safe place to wait it out, preferentially indoors or in your car.
When a thunderstorm threatens, get inside a home or large building, or inside an all-metal (not convertible) vehicle
Inside a home, avoid using the telephone, except for emergencies
If outside, with no time to reach a safe building or an automobile, follow these rules
Do not stand underneath a natural lighting rod such as a tall tree, high tension electrical tower, cellular antenna, etc.
Avoid projecting above the surrounding landscape as you would do if you were standing on a hilltop, in an open field, on the beach, or fishing from a small boat
Get out of and away from open water
Get away from tractors and other metal farm equipment
Get off of and away from motorcycles, scooters, golf carts and bicycles. Put down golf clubs
.
Stay away from wire fences, clotheslines, metal pipes, rails and other metallic paths which could carry lightning to you from some distance away
Avoid standing in small isolated sheds or other small structures in open areas.
In a forest, seek shelter in a low area under a thick growth of small trees. In open areas, go to a low place such as a ravine or a valley. Be alert for flash floods.
If you're hopelessly isolated in a level field of prairie and you feel your hair stand on end - indicating that lightning is about to strike - drop to your knees and bend forward putting your hands on your knees. Do not lie flat on the ground.
Cheers,
James Expat-blog Experts Team
See also
Living in Brazil: the expat guideWill Brazil lose the 2014 World Cup? What would the consequences be?More Violent Protests - Has the country fallen into anarchy?Desertification in Brazil, almost 20% of population sufferHi everyone would like to know more about BrazilExpat in Brazil from a culture that is almost the perfect oppositeHow has your life changed in Brazil
Not too many places other than Brazil where you're going to see lightning with this kind of intensity!!!
The Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (Inpe) warns that 80% of all lightning strikes in Brazil occur between October and March. They also warn that around 90% of lightning deaths in Brazil could be avoided if people would only follow the lightning safety rules above.
While Amazonas, Pará and Mato Grosso traditionally have the highest number of lightning strikes each year, São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul and Minas Gerais traditionally lead in the number of lightning related deaths each year.
Cheers,
James Expat-blog Experts Team
On Monday (29) a lightning strike in Paraguaçu Paulista killed 24 head of cattle. The cattle which were at pasture were taking shelter from the storm under a tree which was struck by a bolt of lightning killing all 24 instantly.
According to the farm owner, Paulo Roberto Gomes, this is the third time this year he's lost animals to lightning strikes and his loss this time is estimated at R$50 thousand.
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