Heavy storm and lighting damaged the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro , Brazil, officials said Friday.
The iconic statue of Christ lost its thumb in a lightning strike Thursday night, reported the Associated Press.
Last month, the statue's right hand middle finger was chipped during a storm. Father Omar Raposo of the Archdiocese of Rio told Globo Radio that repairs will be made at the earliest. He also said that the church has a collection of the stone that was used to build the statue. It was erected in 1931.
Christ the Redeemer, a 125-foot tall statue is located on the Corcovado mountain in Tijuca Forest National Park, Rio. It has been a constant victim of lighting.
In 2012, around $4 million were spent to repair the eroded parts of the face and hands of the statue.
On February 2008, lightning during a violent electrical storm damaged the statue. The fingers, head and eyebrows were damaged. The Rio de Janeiro state government repaired the lightning rods and replaced some of the outer soapstone layers on the statue.
The statue, visited by people across the world, was spoilt after graffiti was sprayed on the head and right arm. Mayor Eduardo Paes described the act "a crime against the nation" and said he would take strict action against the vandals. He also offered a financial reward for any information against the vandals.
Police arrested a 28-year-old house painter Paulo Souza dos Santos. He later admitted to the crime saying that he acted "like a criminal and a (drug) trafficker." He also sought apologies from the people of Rio.
