Spectacular footage from France Lightning causes sequoia tree to collapse within seconds

dpa

1.7.2024 - 13:23

France was also hit by severe storms at the weekend. A lightning bolt destroyed a gigantic tree, as a video shows.

1.7.2024 - 13:23

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  • Heavy storms and rain also caused considerable damage and flooding in France on Saturday.
  • Several people lost their lives.
  • Lightning caused a tree to collapse within seconds.

Heavy storms and rain also caused considerable damage and flooding in France on Saturday. Regional rail services in the east of the country were suspended as a precautionary measure.

Three people in a car were killed by a falling tree. The tree crashed with great force into the car, which was traveling on a country road near the village of Rosnay-l'Hôpital (Aube) on Saturday evening, reported the France 3 channel on Sunday, citing the local fire department.

Three occupants in the car, all around 80 years old, were killed, and the rescue services freed a fourth trapped person with life-threatening injuries.

Lots of water as the cause?

A video posted on social media shows lightning striking a sequoia tree in the French village of Augé in the mid-west of France. The tree is completely destroyed by the strike and collapses.

There is speculation on social media that the tree stored a lot of water. This is said to have started boiling immediately on impact and expanded. This caused the tree to implode.

dpa