A powerful storm recently struck Mecca, one of Islam’s most sacred sites, where large numbers of worshippers were gathered to perform Umrah. The storm, which brought with it intense winds and lightning, has captured widespread attention on social media, particularly due to dramatic footage of lightning striking Mecca’s famous clock tower.
The most widely shared video from the event shows a lightning bolt striking the Mecca Clock Tower, one of the world’s tallest buildings and home to the largest clock face. The video, which has since gone viral, captures the exact moment the lightning bolt illuminated the night sky over the holy city. The sight of the lightning strike has been described as both terrifying and awe-inspiring. Despite the intensity of the strike, the Mecca Clock Tower emerged unscathed, thanks to its advanced lightning protection system.
Lightning strike hitting the Makkah Clock Tower pic.twitter.com/BCTI8RE2X2
— Visual feast (@visualfeastwang) August 25, 2024
According to the National Center for Meteorology, the storm brought winds reaching speeds of up to 80 km/hour. The lightning that struck the clock tower formed a shape resembling a tree with branches, followed by a bright flash of light spreading across the sky. This sequence of events culminated in a loud thunderclap as the lightning hit the tower.
This isn’t the first time the Mecca Clock Tower has been struck by lightning. The tower is particularly prone to such strikes due to its height and the presence of 800 fixed rods and 20 automatically extending lightning conductors. These rods are strategically placed at the highest points of the tower to attract lightning strikes. When a lightning bolt hits, the rods safely channel millions of volts of energy through copper or aluminium cables into the ground, effectively protecting the structure from damage.
The Mecca Clock Tower is part of a larger complex that includes residential buildings, the Abraj Al Bait shopping center, and a luxury five-star hotel operated by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. This complex is designed to accommodate Haj pilgrims, offering over a thousand parking spaces and various amenities for extended stays.
The recent storm and the viral footage of the lightning strike have once again highlighted the resilience of this iconic structure, which continues to stand tall despite the forces of nature.
