‘Awful artillery of heaven’: Lightning strikes electric tower in South Carolina, turns it into fireball; chilling video emerges

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The footage shows the officer driving through slow-moving traffic just moments before the lightning struck (Image source: @MountPleasantPD/X)A dramatic dashcam video capturing the moment a lightning bolt struck an electric pole in South Carolina, triggering a fiery explosion, has gone viral on social media. The incident took place around 11 am local time at the intersection of Highway 17 and Shelmore Boulevard in Mount Pleasant.The footage, recorded by a Mount Pleasant Police Department officer, shows the officer’s vehicle moving through slow traffic just seconds before lightning hit the pole. The strike caused a nearby transformer to blow, shooting a fireball skyward and knocking out a streetlight on the right side of the road.“A bit too much excitement for a Monday! The lightning strike caused our power outages and traffic delays. Fortunately, no one was injured, and @DominionEnergy responded quickly, restoring power and removing the downed wires,” the Mount Pleasant Police Department posted on X.“This was caught on an officer’s dashcam around 11 am at the intersection of Hwy 17 & Shelmore Blvd, bringing down wires across the roadway and causing widespread power outages. More than a dozen officers and CSOs managed traffic at seven intersections for roughly three hours,” it added.Watch the viral clip here:A bit too much excitement for a Monday! The lightning strike caused our power outages and traffic delays. Fortunately, no one was injured, and @DominionEnergy responded quickly, restoring power and removing the downed wires. pic.twitter.com/PyieuiTG1K— Mount Pleasant PD (@MountPleasantPD) August 11, 2025Also Read | ‘Despicable behaviour’: Men ‘dine and dash’ at Indian restaurant in Northampton without paying nearly Rs 21,000 billThe video garnered an array of reactions, with a user sharing, “That’s me driving right in front of the police vehicle! My windshield was smashed and some scratches from the downed wires. Thankfully I wasn’t hurt and it doesn’t look like anyone else was either.” Another user commented, “God ain’t playing! He’s warning you to get your heart right with him and seek him while he may still be found. If you don’t find Jesus soon, the tribulation will find you. We are living in the end times people! Don’t delay, just pray.”“The awful artillery of heaven,” a third user reacted.© IE Online Media Services Pvt LtdTags:social media virals