Lightning strike kills four on Brazil beach

lightningSAO PAULO, Brazil – A lightning strike during a sudden downpour killed four Brazilian beachgoers Monday, media reports said.

The victims had been relaxing at Praia Grande in southeastern Sao Paulo state when they were struck as they sought shelter at a beach kiosk, web news portal G1 reported.

According to Agence France-Presse, G1 identified the fatalities as a pregnant woman and “three men.” The Associated Press however identified the three companions of the pregnant woman as “her husband, her aunt and uncle,” citing local media that interviewed city firefighters.

G1 added that four other people had been taken to hospital.

Police didn’t know the condition of the injured.

Violent storms have ravaged southeast Brazil in recent days, with the metropolitan area of Sao Paulo being especially hit hard.

In the early hours of Monday, a storm downed scores of trees across the area of 20 million, wreaking havoc on transit after more than 100 stoplights malfunctioned.

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