‘Like an apocalypse’: Lightning strike, blast captured on camera in South Carolina

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MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD) — A lightning strike in South Carolina was captured on a police officer’s dashcam as thunderstorms moved through the area Monday.

The officer’s cruiser was traveling on Highway 17 in Mount Pleasant, just east of Charleston, when a bolt of lightning struck a utility pole, causing an explosion.

Footage of the incident shows a fireball shooting toward the sky after the strike. Sparks also fly from a utility pole on the other side of the highway.

lightning mount pleasant
Footage of the incident shows a fireball shooting toward the sky after the strike. (Mount Pleasant Police Department)

Police said the lightning strike and explosion knocked out power in the area. Highway 17 was also closed in both directions for several hours.

“Fortunately, no one was injured, and Dominion Energy responded quickly, restoring power and removing the downed wires,” police wrote on Facebook.

Still, viewers on social media expressed shock over the footage.

“I thought you only see scenes like this in a movie,” one Facebook user wrote, while another said it “looks like an apocalypse just occurred.”

Others, meanwhile, were amused by the musical selection that the Mount Pleasant Police Department chose to score the footage: “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC.

“Who is the guy that added AC/DC[?]!!!” one viewer wrote. “I want names. YOU ROCK.”

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