The iconic statue of Jesus overlooking Rio de Janeiro has lost a thumb tip as a result of a lightning strike.
Christ the Redeemer, one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks, was damaged in a huge storm on Thursday night.
Standing at 38 metres the statue – which sits atop Mount Corcovado – was named in a 2007 global poll as one of seven new wonders of the world.
The famous statue is hit by lightning
Site caretaker Father Osmar Raposo said the giant concrete figure will undergo repair next month.
O Globo broadcast helicopter images of the statue showing part of Christ’s right thumb missing.
After being hit by lightning the statue lost it’s right thumb
Brazil’s national space institute INPE counted more than 40,000 lighting flashes during the three-hour storm which felled dozens of trees and flooded streets.
Winds gusting at 52mph forced one of Rio’s airports to close and brought a halt to boat trips across the city’s Guanabara Bay.
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