Fact Check: It’s safe to carry phones in the rain — they DON’T attract lightning!
India Today
A video has been widely shared with the claim that phones can attract lightning. The claim is misleading. Here's what we found.
As summer monsoons arrive in India, a shocking video has been making rounds with a questionable warning. The video claims that phones can attract lightning.
The video in question shows a man walking on a rainswept street with an umbrella when he’s suddenly struck by what appears to be lightning. There’s an explosion of sparks and the man is next seen unconscious on the ground.
Those sharing the video claimed: “This man was using his phone while walking in the rain, it is believed the lightning was attracted to the phone signals. Don't use phone in open spaces when it is raining.”
AFWA found that the claim with this video is misleading. Mobile phones can’t attract lightning. Media reports on the video state that a security guard’s umbrella burst into a fireball after being struck by lightning.
Archived versions of posts with similar claims can be seen here and here.
A reverse search of the video’s keyframes led us to a report in the Mirror from December 28, 2021.
The report said that the man was a security guard and his umbrella suddenly burst into a fireball and disintegrated after being struck by lightning. The report added that the man “miraculously survived the incident.” The incident took place in the village of Sukapura in North Jakarta, Indonesia.
