Footage Shows Statue Of Liberty Getting Struck By Lightning

Jul 25, 2020 by apost team

2020 has been a year unlike any other. From the pandemic to murder hornets running around freely, we might think that by now we have seen it all. However, little did we know that 2020 had yet another ace up its sleeve: On July 22nd, 2020, the Statue of Liberty was struck by lightning!

Thankfully, the statue is still intact and no major harm has been done to it. As The Indian Express points out, the footage of this happening was taken by Michael Calabrese, a passenger on a ferry that was passing by when the thunderstorm hit. The lightning struck the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty in a short video that looks like something out of a sci-fi film.

The lighting is vivid and descends from the stormy clouds above as if sent by Zeus himself. The reason why the statue was the prime target for the lightning strike is that it is made out of copper. Copper is a conductive material, making it susceptible to lightning strikes.

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The statue is located on Liberty Island where the doors have recently been open for the first time in months. According to Fox News, Liberty Island has remained closed for quite some time, as large gatherings are not allowed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Still, there is plenty to do on this island such as visiting food or gift shops. As a bonus, the scenery is quite breathtaking.

In light of Liberty Island's recent reopening, the ferries have also gone back into the business. These ferries transport visitors to and from New York and New Jersey. While most people might be confused as to why these ferries are back in business, it is important to note that the owners of these ferries are taking precautions to ensure that the boats are safe. This includes spaced seatings, frequent disinfecting, and the enforcement of social distancing guidelines.

We have the ferries to thank for the photo of this stunning event. If they had not been running, we would never have believed that this occurred. The footage was taken by Micheal Calabrese while he was aboard the Miss New York.

"I was just in the right place at the right time," he told USA Today.

He claimed that he used his phone camera to capture the incredible footage. His passion for the weather as a photographer caused him to begin filming this peculiar occurrence.

"I did my best to keep it as still as possible and contain my excitement."

Calabrese claims that this footage was the highlight of his career. It has already gained over 2 million views on Twitter. In this clip, you can see the low, dark clouds hovering in the background just in level with the torch of Lady Liberty. Before you can even blink, a purple flash of lightning strikes the statue and lasts for a few seconds. Calabrese managed to film this footage while he was docked on Ellis Island.

There is much speculation online as to whether or not the lightning hit Lady Liberty. Plenty of social media users have commented that the strike did not touch the statue. Instead, it touched an area behind the statue. However, if taken from the correct angle, it could look like the statue was struck by lightning from a distance.

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